Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report May 2018

Proof that the 2018 Summer Season has arrived, North bound special trains by tour operators and the regular Alaska Railroad Aurora passenger train go right past our door before noon. In the afternoon the South bound parade begins. Twelve to fourteen trains a day will be the norm until mid September, with consists of 12 cars or more punctuated by an occasional 4300 series Mac 70 with a single coach. The Alaska Railroad plays hosts to thousands of visitor every day, with trains configured to meet the needs of tour ship operators as well as the daily scheduled passenger trains originating in Anchorage, moving North to Fairbanks and South to Whittier and Seward.

Positive Train Control is a challenge for all steam locomotives operating on main lines. In June of 2017, our Professional Engineer, Robert Franzen of Steam Services of America, represented the interests of Engine 557 Restoration Company at the organizational meeting of major Steam operators at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The goal was to develop a course toward PTC compliance for Steam Locomotives. The John H. Emory Railway Heritage Trust was there and offered financial grants to move the development of PTC solutions forward.

A headline on RAILWAYAGE RAILINSIGHTS Grants to facilitate Positive (steam) Train Control herald some positive development. You can read the good news here.

So where is the Alaska Railroad in PTC development?
Eileen Reilly, VP, Advanced Train Control Systems with the Alaska Railroad provided this update. Pat, Per our conversation here are some You-Tube videos that represent the type of PTC that ARRC runs:  

1. UP I-ETMS PTC
2. BNSF I-ETMS PTC
3. Freightrailworks I-ETMS PTC How it works  

I have also attached the ARRC Positive Train Control Fact sheet.  For your information, the ARRC is installing the Wabtec Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS©) with the Wabtec Train Management Dispatch System (TMDS) Office Segment.

Here at the 557 we expect to pursue the developing technology deemed necessary and raise appropriate funding to place 557 in PTC compliance for long term operation.

557 Volunteers continue with the daily grind of doing all the bits and pieces that add up to major sub assemblies.

Tapered bolts for the frame are custom made to each hole after cleaning the hole with a spiral tapered reamer. Rather than offset the lathe tail stock to achieved the taper, Doug VanWingerden uses a live center in a boring head to achieve the offset. Both ends of the bolt stock are center drilled and the chuck end is supported on a dead center. This has the Rube and Goldberg seal of approval because it works.

Sub assembly of components with upgrades are always underway. Ken Elmore drilled pilot holes in new brackets for the large air tank installed between the frames by the Alaska Railroad. The old tank could not be removed for ultrasound or hydro-testing. New supports will allow it to be turned 90° and passed out between the 2nd and 3rd driver. Both tanks were cleaned, ultrasound tested, documented and then painted.

Ron Dudley first needle scaled and then sand blasted the oil delivery piping for the oil burner atomizer. The pipe is big enough to pass small birds so the 3/16 inch stainless steel screen in the tank filler should be adequate.

Welder, Richard Jensen finish welded the new schedule 80 upgrades to the firing manifold. It was then subjected to a 300 PSI hydro test. It will next be painted and all the associated valves and fittings added to be followed by another hydro-test to proof the assembly.

Jerry Peters enjoyed the company of many family visitors in May. They came to the engine house to tour what Grand Pa Jerry works on. Four generations were the guests of 557. From left to right: Sofia Bowen – 6 years old Joell Bowen – Oldest grandson Jerry Peters – The Oldest !!! and the Father of Tiffany Pam Bowen – Joell’s wife Ava Bowen – 3 years old Tiffany Peters – Our #2 kid  (Timothy is our oldest)

As of May 24th the $95.11 check is in the bank. Thanks to all of you who have taken action to support 557 via the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program. All it takes is a few clicks and you direct the Kroger family of stores to contribute to 557.

“Your supporters (21 households) who shopped at Fred Meyer between 1-1-2018 and 3-31-2018 (Cycle 2018, Qtr 1) have contributed to your $95.11 total donation. Your organization will be receiving a Kroger check in this amount within 30 days from 4-27-2018. If you have any questions, please email or visit our website at . Thank you for your continued support of your local Fred Meyer store. Don't forget to use your newsletter, website, and events to encourage your supporters to link to your organization. The more your supporters shop with us, the more money your organization will earn!"

If you shop at Fred Meyer or Kroger stores in the Northwest you can sign up here.

You most probably shop on Amazon. Just sign up with the AmazonSmile program and when you make a purchase you will be prompted to indicate the nonprofit group you wish Amazon to support. It is painless.
This e-mail says it all.
“This email is to notify you that Engine 557 Restoration Company (EIN: 46-2663256) has been issued a $52.76 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between January 1 and March 31, 2018. The donation was deposited to your organization's bank account around May 15, 2018.”

S-160 locomotives have an international following. Quoting a recent e-mail. “Hei, Here are a couple of pictures showing MAV 411-358 a cousin to 557, on display at the Hegyeshalom station in Hungary, just across the border from Austria and Vienna. BRgds Knut Erik” Thanks to Erik we have found three surviving S-160 locomotives preserved in Hungary where they represent the 510 American GI locomotives that came to their aid in 1947, with some still in service into the 1980’s. Read all about them right here.

By comparison the Alaskan experience can be viewed anytime If you just type Engine 557 youtube Please share this link with friends and family.

At the alaskarails.org guest book I find that several folks have asked where they can get an HO scale model of ARR #557. Roco has produced the S-160 U.S.A.Transportation Corp. locomotives in HO scale. These are beautiful little gems with full DCC and sound. They now offer both the French and Austrian version of the S-160 in addition to the as built version for the US Army Transportation Corps. They plan to offer this in several national railway schemes with prototype specific details. There were 2120 s-160 locos built and 12 came to the Alaska Railroad. We are hoping that ROCO will follow through with a model detailed specific to ARR #557. Those upgrades would result in a machine resembling this HO model of 557.

Here is the link to Reynolds the U.S. distributor for ROCO.

I have two of the ROCO S-160 USATC HO models with DCC and Sound available from an early stocking order at the special price of $475.00 plus postage. You can order with a return email at sewtrain557@gmail.com.

We go out of our way to host visitors at Engine 557 because every rail fan is a future ambassador and potential customer. I gave the volunteer crew the Memorial Day extended weekend off for the first time in 5 years. Richard Oehrig came down from Fairbanks at the invitation of Norm Odsather, so I opened the shop for a 90 minute tour on Saturday. Tim and Mary Moore from Anchorage came along as they are all O scale railroaders. They in turn hosted me to lunch at the Trout House.

Norm’s comments are shared here for all the volunteers and 557 supporters. “Thanks so much for the tour Saturday. That was very much appreciated to say the least.  What an incredible task you have before you and a fantastic job that you and your team have been conquering. Bringing such a classic part of the history of not only Alaska, but railroading, back to life to become a preserved living historical and educational artifact that will hopefully last for generations to come. You and your team are to be commended!“

Thanks again for having us!
Cheers, Norm Odsather

I will close out with those good words.

Patrick J. Durand, for the crew at Engine 557 and our friends.

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