Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report September 2018

We are sad to announce the passing of 557 volunteer Stewart Sterling.  Stewart suffered a major stroke at home and died three days later.   Stewart was involved from the earliest days of the 557 restoration. In addition to his interest in trains and 557 he was an avid photographer and took a number of the 557 progress photos that we have posted. His favorite photo of himself, was at the throttle of Nevada Northern #40. 

Cathey Sterling relates that of all his pursuits, Alaska aviation history, photography, Coast Guard Auxiliary and model Railroading, his real passion was for steam and particularly the 557 restoration.   Please keep Stewart's family in your thoughts and prayers.

There will be a celebration of life for Stewart Sterling on Saturday, October 27, 2018 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the KINCAID CHALET at 9401 Raspberry Road Anchorage.   Pot luck finger food dishes are welcome.

Cathey asks that memorial contributions in memory of Stewart be made to:
Engine 557 Restoration Company 
PO Box 875360
Wasilla, Alaska 99687-5360

While Stewart took hundreds of photos at the 557 Engine house he was always behind the camera, but for this one. Stewart is at the far left, joining the crew after setting the camera timer on January 5, 2015.

Visitors in September included Fred Sharper representing the Society of 40 & 8 Locale 1098. Fred personally delivered a donation of $500.00 from the group and advised they want to make this a quarterly goal.

Brian Forrest came down from Fairbanks to give us a report on the activities of the Tanana Valley Railroad at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. Brian is assistant museum manager for the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad. At 19 he already has his State boiler license and is in the crew of TVRR #1 for its special operations.

Herb Worthley is 91 years young and still square dancing. Herb was in the crew that brought 557 back to Anchorage after her service in the Tanana River floods at Nenana. He came by the shop with a nice personal donation and had a chance to visit with another long retired Alaska Railroader, Jerry Peters the former ARR Master Mechanic now working on 557. Herb is the young looking guy on the left of this photo.

Paul Dalleska formerly with the Huckleberry Railroad in Flynt, Michigan is consulting and working with our 557 Volunteers on quality assurance. On September 29 the usual suspects got together for a group photo and Paul is second from the right. From the left are Gene Augustine, Ron Dudley, Terry Douglas, Tom Walker, Pat Durand, Paul Dalleska and Lynn Willis. Mike McKervey took the photo.

The front Engine Truck had been bent out of alignment and then operated that way for some time. The left wheel flange was worn away and both wheels are not currently compliant. Using the original drawings as reference the bent components were returned to spec. Basic components were painted with Cloverdale Primer.

As reported last month the Hart Links required some major repair accomplished by our friends at GreatLand Welding and Machine. After making 8 new pins from 4140 and some new bolts the assembly went back together. The swing links and Bissel post support were assembled in a cooperative effort including Mike McKervey and Ron Dudley.

The complexity of the Bissel truck design is shown when the engine truck components are laid out next to the drawings. The finished front engine truck will look just like this 1/8 scale model built by our Secretary/Treasurer, Dick Morris.

The next step is preparing the Journal box to receive a new Babbitt face. All the tooling for Babbitt is being done by our crew under direction of Paul Dalleska.

The brain trust of Terry Douglas, Jerry Cunnington and Dean Sawyer have been been creating the Shaper Tooling required to machine the inside surface of the bearing brasses to receive Babbitt. One of the original brasses was a reject and it is being used for proof of concept with a closely observed test pass.

The first batch of replacement bushing sleeves has been sent to Med-Tek Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota for case hardening. These will replace worn and broken bushings in the spring rigging.

Lynn Willis is needle scaling the Exhaust Pipe (single) as it is shown on drawing 443 S 13280. There are fewer and fewer components that need this basic cleaning for inspection.

Robert Franzen of Steam Services of America is bringing boiler maker Bob Gold to Wasilla for a ten day marathon of boiler work starting October 3, 2018. Volunteers are preparing for 10 and 12 hour days while Robert is here to lead the work effort. We expect to set some major milestones.

If you want a day by day account of the action here on the front line, Dick Morris will be posting regularly on our Facebook page. Just Google Engine 557 Facebook and you will find the latest new that's fit to print.

By the way, this is an expensive but necessary work effort. Your contributions will help.

Fund raising continues and you can always help out by sending a generous check to:
Mail and make payment to:
Engine 557 Restoration Company
PO BOX 875360
Wasilla, Alaska 99687-5360

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

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