August saw more visitors to the 557 Engine House. They came from near and far. Bill Church, former Alaska Railroader, stopped by with pictures of the crew on the last official run of Engine 557. Bernard Othic as engineer and Charles Lindberg, conductor on the return of 557 from flood service at Nenana in 1962. Charles was easier to recognize in his Conductors uniform.

Monday, August 15th retired ARR railroader Herb Worthly came for a return visit and brought a friend, Troy Julsen, along. Herb is one of the few surviving crewmen from 557 operational days. A few days later a donation of $557.00 arrived in the mail from Herb.

Matthew Thompson, Railroad Safety Inspector Motive Power and Equipment from the Federal Railway Administration, visited 557 Aug. 16, 2016. This was his first trip to 557 and he came with Michael Blackwell who performed our first inspection last year. They were working their way to Fairbanks during ARR inspections and just stopped in for an update. We took the opportunity to get consultation on some safety appliance grab irons and steps on the 557 tender. Matthew and Michael were most helpful and expressed their admiration of the work being done by our volunteers. Pat, Michael and Matthew eyeballed a passing passenger train in a roll by.

August 20th was a big day for visitors!

Regular volunteer, Ron Dudley, brought his wife, Joyce, along with Mr. & Mrs. Randal Bishop and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Corbin all from Ohio. They purchased Engine 557 Returning prints, toured the shop and left a very nice donation for 557.

Jim Posey and friend Mark Delaney came to check us out. Jim is the senior member of the Alaska Live Steamers and has built two 1.5” gauge live steam locomotives, a geared Heisler and a Heavy Mikado. A long time active builder in the Hobby of Live Steam, He donated the speeder wheels we use under our welding cart.

James Keene brought his wife, Shannon and friends, John and Bobbie Stoken, from the vicinity of Eureka, Montana. To quote James, “The girls weren’t real interested in details, but John was very impressed with the scope of the project and the amount of work involved.” John is a High School Industrial Arts teacher and he wants to come back to Alaska when we have 557 under steam.

Douglas and Judith Hoffman from Napoleon, Ohio visited on August 24th. Doug is another mechanical engineer with “ferraequineosis” commonly known as Iron horse disease.

Sue Goodwin and her husband, Rocky retired in 1990 from the local schools and split their retirement time between Alaska and Mexico. David Gregory from Ontario, Canada Joined them. Sue brought visiting brother, Robert Kleener Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, from Albuquerque, New Mexico for the tour. Robert is a Mechanical Engineer and asked all the good questions.

Progress was still being made on installation of the bunker oil delivery line on the tender. Jerry Peters and Ken Elmore are fitting and refitting new schedule 80 pipe replacing the old schedule 40 components in a new configuration.

Continuing work on the white oak cab floor and installation of drop sash windows in the back wall of the cab is a combined effort. These windows allows a view back over the tender, a feature added to some of the Alaska Railroad 550 class.

Doug VanWingerden has been machining the caps for flexible stay bolts, while Laverne Buller has manufactured the sleeves in his home shop. They actually do screw together thanks to the efforts of these talented volunteer machinist.

Edna boiler check valves required some machine work to achieve the appropriate opening clearance after clean up of the seats. Fortunately we have drawings and printed instruction on the proper set up clearances.

The new cast iron builders plates continue to draw interest. One of these will be installed with the stainless steel bolts on the fireman’s side of the smoke box. The painted one will be used for demonstrations and displays of the technology used to produce them.

Working four days per week, volunteers respond to the work call when they can. A typical Thursday brings out the “Usual Suspects” and fills the parking lot at the 557 Engine House.

The Engine 557 Restoration Company Board of Directors was called to order at 11:00 a.m. on August 30, 2016 by Patrick Durand. In attendance: Scott Hicks VP, Dick Morris Sec/Treas, and directors, Jim Posey, Doug Engebretson, Dale Wade, Maria Keffer and John Combs attended via FaceTime from his home in Ohio.

Resolutions passed by the board:

Resolution 2016-XX, Adoption of Equal Opportunity and Treatment Policy The following policy is adopted:

"It is the policy of the Engine 557 Restoration Company to comply with all laws and regulations on equal opportunity and treatment and it does not permit discrimination on the basis of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, or national origin. "

Resolution 2016-XX, Election of Board Member

Scott Hicks is elected to serve a three-year term as member of the Board of Directors, Engine 557 Restoration Company

Resolution 2016-XX, Election of Vice-president

Scott Hicks is elected to serve as Vice-president, Engine 557 Restoration Company Resolution

2016-XX, Permit to operate on a Portion of the ARRC Palmer Branch

The President is directed to negotiate with the Alaska Railroad Corporation to prepare a non-binding letter of intent for the Company’s use of a portion of the Palmer Branch as described in Alaska Railroad Corporation draft contract no. 20207, Special Land Use Permit, between the ARRC and the Engine 557 Restoration Company.

If compatible with the letter of intent with the ARRC, the President is also directed to negotiate with the City of Palmer for permitted use of the Palmer Airport spur and any related facilities necessary for the operation of 557. It is the board’s desire that the letter incorporates a 5-year term, with the option to renew for two additional 5 year terms.

The President is authorized to coordinate, and negotiate with other interested bodies concerning the use of the Palmer Branch, Palmer airport spur, and other facilities.

Any binding contract or agreement must be returned to the Board of Directors for ratification.

Engine 557 Restoration Company will need a location to do testing and crew training when the locomotive is ready for operation. The Palmer branch and the Palmer Airport spur are not within the ARRC implementation plan for PTC. Temporal separation can be made so 557 could operate while the looming Positive Train Control (PTC) issues can be resolved.

We have reached the halfway point in contributions and sweat equity needed to match and receive the $9000 grant from the John H. Emery Rail Heritage Trust. Thanks to the contributors and our untiring volunteers who have brought us to this point! Two of the recent contributions were for a very appreciated 557 dollars. 

If you haven't contributed recently, please consider making a gift to your favorite locomotive and take advantage of the Trust's generosity of a one-for-one match. Contributions can be dropped off at the "engine house," mailed to Engine 557 Restoration Company, P.O. Box 875360, Wasilla, AK 99687, or made online through Paypal via the link at http://557.alaskarails.org/support/index.html

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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