A most excellent surprise arrived in the mail on June 1st. A totally unexpected and unsolicited $10,000 donation marked "materials for the Engine 557 Restoration Project" arrived in the names of Mr. Paul Bates and Mrs. Leigh Bates. The Bates' contribution takes us another step closer to building that first fire in 557's new firebox. The entire 557 volunteer crew thanks the Bates for their support. In follow up, Mr. Bates has been watching our progress and this major contribution comes from local Alaskan’s supporting our preservation effort.

Engine 557 restoration is attaining some major project milestones. Our little three legged stool of volunteer service, business in-kind donations, and cash contributions is getting a bit lopsided and needs a boost on the cash contribution side. To this end, project manager and Engine 557 Restoration Company president, Patrick Durand, has issued a challenge for others to help in a match of the Bates' generous gift by July 30. Can we do it? Donations can be made by check or credit card or by dropping them off during a visit to the 557 engine house. Thank you for your continued support!

Progress on 557 continues on several fronts.  Installation of the 5 sheets making up the new firebox was done last July, 2015.   The welding of these structural components require certifications that you do not usually find in the volunteer pool.  Originally we budgeted $8,000 labor for this portion of the project.  Most of the materials, rod and propane for pre heat were donated  by Gary Feaster at Greatland Welding and  Randy Bradford at Amerigas.  

Mr. Maurice “Rod” Hansen, is the neighbor of regular volunteer Ron Dudley.   Rod, is a veteran welder with the local natural gas company ENSTAR and has all the skills and certification to do this work.   Ron Dudley invited Rod to a work day and he showed up with all his own equipment and went to work under the direction of our CMO, Jeff DeBroeck.

ENSTAR has a program that pays their employees who volunteer work for recognized non profits in volunteer positions.  To quote Rod, “I can be much more productive here welding for 557 than I can be hanging sheet rock for Habitat for Humanity.”   We thank ENSTAR for the day they sponsored Rod.   He just continued to show up when he had time available and before long all the seams in the firebox were welded up.   We know him now as “Welding Rod”.   With patience we were able to trade volunteer labor time and keep the $8000.00 in the bank.

On June 4, 2016 he completed the welding of the belly brace stay bolts in the new rear flue sheet.  Here he is applying the preheat to the sheet before welding the last of the stays into the sheet.

Thanks to “Welding Rod” Hansen we have achieved a new milestone and are ready to start installing stay bolts!

On June 4th John and Nancy Boyd of Anchorage took a tour of the 557 Project. For the past three years they have been purchasing 557 fund raising premiums to include pins, patches, hats and the Extra 557 Returning print. On this visit they purchased the 557 tube section desk organizer, paper weight.

Just got word from our Secretary/Treasurer, Dick Morris, that Boyds have convinced their family members to follow up with a second round of Tube and Flue sponsorships in the amount of $1087.00  We thank the Boyd family for their continuing support of the 557 Restoration Company efforts.

We welcome visits anytime you are in the Wasilla area.  We need about 400 more generous folks like the Boyds and we can realize the total cash budget needed to get 557 back in steam by 2018.

With the latest posting there are just 25 Tubes and 6 Flues left to close out this fund raiser.   Just to save you the math exercise, with the sponsorship of the last tube and flue we will have raised $26,340. This is the very best kind of fund raiser for 557 because there are no material or shipping cost, just the administration of the contribution and that is all done by volunteers. The proceeds helped us pay for all the new tubes and flues which have been purchased and are on site waiting the day they can be installed. Installation will be one of the very last major jobs because the day the first tube is installed, the FRA mandated service life clock of 15 years or 1472 days of operation begins ticking.

557's builder's plate was already missing from the locomotive in a June, 1965, photo. We made an exhaustive, but unsuccessful search for the original. Finally, we decided the only way she would have a builder's plate would be if we made one. 557 volunteer Dick researched its appearance and Terry drew and created a plastic replica using his 3D printer. Pat Garley, who operates Arctic Fires Bronze Sculptureworks in Palmer, makes bronze castings for the artist community. However, once a year he demonstrates his portable cast iron cupola at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry where he and other artists participate in an iron pour. He took the plastic pattern for our replica plate and duplicated it in wax so it could be cast using the lost wax process. On Saturday, June 22, 2016 Pat and his group poured the replacement builder's plate for 557. Pat showed the plate immediately after opening the mold and before all of the investment had been removed. The "foundrymen" are local students and visiting foundry workers from around the country who share their passion for preserving the history and techniques of this basic industry.

557 wasn’t the only Alaskan locomotive to benefit from the group's efforts. The newly cast smoke box door is for Tanana Valley RR #1, a narrow gauge 0-4-0 in Fairbanks. Pat and his crew used the original to create a flexible mold and wax pattern from which to cast the replacement. We sincerely thank Pat and the other craftsmen and women who helped 557 to regain another part of her identity.

Working on 557 day in and out, we tend to dwell on the challenges before us. Looking back we can appreciate what our combined efforts have accomplished. The final paint and lettering has been done on the tender and now we are doing the plumbing and electrical work. Here is a summary:

Side view of the Lima built USATC tender at the Museum of Transportation and Industry. Many modifications for use with the locomotive crane had to be removed.

Rolling the frame to needle scale, remove flash and sandblast for painting. Frame with new wood sleepers at the ready.

Preparing the fuel bunker and machining new seats for emergency shut off valve during bunker rehab.

Tank crew gaining access for needle scaling and sand blasting interior of the tank. Doing final sanding to the tank in primer. Painting tender bottom after repairs.

More tank maneuvers required to place the tank on the frame. Painted tank positioned over the frame. Less the fuel bunker. A final coat of shiny black paint.

Alignment of the tank on the frame using air jacks to support the tank while moving the tender fore and aft on the shop trucks. Air jacks at all four corners.

Stewart Sterling applying mask of self adhesive stencils prepared by B-Original Signs. Bob and Sue Miller worked with us to create the unique Alaska Railroad version of Railroad Roman to letter the tender. Terry Douglas removed the inner liner of the masking after final positions were verified. Premask is all removed from letters and masking of black areas complete.

CMO, Jeff DeBroeck painting the first lift of white. Applying the second coat of several to make sure the white is opaque. Removing the last bit of masking to close out a 12 hour day. The results were most gratifying.

The next job was preparing to complete setting the tank on the frame. With air jacks at the four corners lifting the tank above the frame, the frame setting on shop trucks was rolled into final alignment.

Our “Eagle has landed” moment came when the tank was bolted down and Lynn Willis, Mike McKervey, Ron Dudley and Pat Durand could call it a day. The 557 Tender rebuild and restoration represents several thousand man hours by our dedicated volunteers.

Visitors in June included Dallas Haman of K2 Aviation and Kevin Foster of Iron Clad Designs, both from Talkeetna. 14 Members of the National Antique Power Club took the tour one evening while they were in the Valley for their National Convention. Peter Kailun of Riverside, California and The Paul Zaragoza family of Eagle River are regular supporters. Joyce and Dwayne Gramille, of Junction City, Oregon and Eric Zamora all took time to visit “Gypsy” during their summer trips to Alaska.

Another view of 557 in operation along Turnagain Arm comes to us from the Ostrom Collection at the University of Connecticut. We love getting these pin-ups of our favorite locomotive.

The challenge is on! Your contribution before July 30th will help us make a match for the generous $10,000 donation from Mr. Paul and Mrs. Leigh Bates.

Patrick J. 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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