Kenneth Pysz invited us to make a 557 presentation to the combined Igloo 31 and Igloo 11 of the Pioneers of Alaska in Palmer, Alaska. I know from experience that you never pass up an opportunity to join in a pot-luck lunch with a bunch of Alaska Pioneers. Sunday afternoon, April 3, I found a warm welcome among the group, many of whom have been following the 557 story. They were very attentive to the history of 557 and our plans for her future operation. The two igloos combined to provide a $1000.00 donation to the 557 Restoration Company! The food also exceeded expectations. Thank you to the Pioneers of Alaska for supporting historic preservation. 557 is featured in the program of the Statewide Pioneers Grand Igloo convention to be held September 14-17, 2016 in Palmer, Alaska.

Our snowless winter continued and as the weather warmed we moved some operations outside. Our in-kind supporters at Roteq Alaska have stored the 557 Drivers for over a year. Bob Schmidt has always helped us out but called to say he was loosing the space during a reconfiguration of the plant. His crew helped us load the driver cradles on the Ford 650 truck. Our 721 loader with forks then unloaded and stored the four cradles. The driver sets will be tarped for the summer and accessible as we make measurements for the new Journal bearings.

In addition to the truck and loader, we recently received the donation of a Cat V80E propane forklift. The machine is usable off pavement and provides capacity up to 8,000 pounds. A days labor by Larry Erickson, oil change and $100.00 in parts put the machine in operation to support the 557 project.

Tuesday, April 5th, Jim Jansen and I joined Lloyd Tesch, from the Alaska Railroad to do a walking survey of the tracks remaining between the Alaska State Fairgrounds and downtown Palmer. Finding rail is a discovery exercise made a little easier in the dead grass of winter. This section of track was last used December 13, 2008 for a Christmas Special and it was minus 11° so the ties and spikes were frozen in place. Among our discoveries was a self guarded frog at the divergence of the Palmer Airport Industrial Park Spur. The exercise was to evaluate the track structures and prepare an estimate for rehabilitation for potential use by 557.

I attended the Association of Train Railroads and Museums (ATRRM) in Golden Colorado April 13 through 16th. This was an opportunity to meet some of our suppliers from the Strasburg Railroad and Bernie Watts from Backshop Enterprises. Steve Butler is now with the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum, and extended an invite for our crews to visit. Mike Spera, Curator of Equipment and Rolling Stock at the Golden museum, and the entire staff at the Colorado Railroad Museum were great hosts.

On Tuesday, I visited the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and encountered two White Pass & Yukon steel coaches. The Lake Deese #280 and Lake Kusawa #286 are on display. The story is, they had been damaged in a collision at Skagway and the insurance company totaled the cars. They were then sold on eBay to the museum in Golden where they were repaired and are now used in the winter holiday train! Hiding behind the Kusawa was Goose #7, but one, of a flock of three at the Museum. The loading platform at Golden is at the start of a 4% grade that goes up and back down to form a loop back to the platform in 1/3 of a mile. On Saturday we rode the line in snow!

Where do replacement parts come from? Here is a reproduction by Lavern Buller. With measurements from the badly broken and cobbled together cast iron original on the left, he created a steel fabrication that matches the original piece but is stronger. Nice to have talent available on call.

Long time volunteer, James Farnham came down from Fairbanks for the week of April 18, 2016. He introduced his Dad, Garry, to 557 and they both worked with the crew doing Gypsy’s bidding all week. The cab needed to be temporarily fitted to its floor so James and Garry worked with Terry Douglas to get the job done.

We introduced James and Garry to Patrick Garley of Arctic Fire Bronze Sculpture Works. They brought along the cracked smoke box door from Porter #1 builders #1792 which operates in Fairbanks. On June 25, 2016, at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry in Wasilla, during the Arctic Fire foundry day at the Museum, two new doors will be poured in cast iron. A replacement for the missing 557 Baldwin builders plate #70480 will also magically appear from the fire and smoke! Be there if you can.

David Dahms of the Matanuska Electric Cooperative Charitable Trust, requested a brief address to the annual membership meeting on April 26, 2016. The text of the presentation is presented here as a summary of progress and the importance of continuing financial support.

First a big thank you to MEA rate payers who Round UP. Engine 557 Restoration Company is nearly 4 years into a 6 year plan to restore Alaska Railroads last steam engine to operation.  On September 5th, 1959 her last revenue run was to the very first ALASKA State Fair in Palmer and then into retirement. Our goal is to bring steam back to the Alaska State fair and share the smell, sounds and excitement of 557 in steam once again serving Alaskan communities. The continuing support of the MEA Charitable Trust with two $10,000 grants, is a major commitment by the community in support of our volunteers.

All the volunteer effort, 40,000 person hours to date, the generosity of the business community with in-kind donation of goods and services, when combined with the MEA Grants have been key to our landing major National and Regional grants for funding.

Our goal is to have steam in 2018! When you hear the whistle blow, come trackside for the sensory overload of smells, sounds and the flurry of motion that only a steam locomotive can provide. Plan to take a ride as we will welcome all of you onboard with locomotive 557. Know you are a part of it all. Thank you.

John Combs, webmaster and 557 Board Member, provides this recently discovered fireman’s side view of 557 for your enjoyment.

Patrick Durand, President

Click here for some of the ways you can help out.

Make all donations to: Engine 557 Restoration Company at the above address.
An Alaskan 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation, EIN 46-2663256

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