Engine 557 Restoration Company
SPECIAL Progress Report December 2020

Wasilla is braving the darkest days with only 5 hours 19 minutes 57 seconds on December 22. Some folks call that the start of Winter. We take a more optimistic view and say “Spring is on the way” because we start adding 1 minute a day. So far it has been a lark with few days dropping below 20° F.

Did you know? You can likely make a $300.00 donation to a non-profit like 557 and still take the standard deduction. No need to itemize if done by December 31. Our Non Profit number is EIN 46-2663256 Engine 557 Restoration Company

Read all about it here.

Thanks to 30 individuals who donated $15,225 we have reached 30% of our targeted goal of $50,000. Each dollar has been matched by our generous Challenge Donors. With your help we will realize a total of $100,000 for this campaign.

Herb Worthley, worked on the ARR from 1948 until retirement in 1984. To my knowledge he can claim to be the last surviving crew member to work on Engine 557 when she was in service. Herb also wished her well with a $500.00 contribution to her care. Herb you inspire us all.

What others say:

“Thank you for this latest progress report. I continue to be impressed not only  by the craftsmanship and attention to detail of what needs to be done, but also your reporting of that work.” Lewis Hicks

Reg Mitchell of Arlington, VA was among the NRHS visitors to 557 back in 2013. He made a $100.00 donation at that time. Reg has made three annual December $1000 gifts since then. To quote Reg, “ The 557 has come a long way since that Saturday”. “I was impressed then with the knowledge and dedication of the volunteers - and continue to be after reading the latest on-line update. I just hope to live long enough to see it run.”

The good news, Reg, is that we are targeting 557 under steam out the door in the fall of 2022. With the support of folks like you, our volunteers and in-kind donors we will make it happen.

“Merry Christmas and Best Wishes from New Hampshire. As always, our donation is in honor of all those who served in Alaska during WWII. Say hello to the "team" for us. Warm regards, Ken and Betty Parys.”

Yes, Engine 557 was a GI locomotive and served along side members of the 714th Railway Operating Battalion. Some of their stories are preserved here at alaskarails.org.

Superior Machine & Welding has been a mainstay in Anchorage for 50 years. I call on Van Horton, Shop Foreman and Jacob Long, General Manager when 557 needs odd materials in small quantities. They rarely disappoint us with a discovery in their back room stash and the price is always right. Thank them with your business.

Plumbing the turret to all the appliances requires some planning. It is also helpful if you have available some specialty unions which are no longer commonly available. Female/male unions, EL unions, 45 unions, T unions on the run, are all still available from Jefferson Union Company. Tell Diana and David, 557 sent you their way.

So what do all those valves do? From inside the cab valve handles are connected by universal joints. Off each end of the turret are large valves that drop down to the Injector starter valves.
From top down on the fireman’s side:
Angle valve feeds the firing manifold including the blower
Small angle valve will feed the rear Dynamo just in front of the manifold
In event of a loss of air, emergency back up steam for the power reverse is next
In the middle is main shut off valve for the Manifold
Continuing to the engineer side from top down:

Smaller valve feeds steam to the lubricators and oil lube lines
Steam supply for cross compound air compressor on the front pilot deck
One valve on the front side of the turret will provide steam for cab heat

From the Turret coming forward are a number of steam and air lines that need to be kept warm hugging the boiler under the jacket. Unions and couplings in these runs are avoided as possible leaks. All of these lines are schedule 80 or better to allow for 225 pounds steam and abrasion wear. They must form fit the boiler profile so they can go under the insulation and jacket. The stand off under the hand rail stantions indicates the thickness of the jacket. From the top down are Steam line to the front dynamo, Steam heat for the lubricators and lube lines, one of four air lines to sanders, emergency steam for power reverse and finally the air for normal operation of the power reverse.

All these lines must maintain a gradient to allow drainage of condensate as indicated with the union T at the elbow in the Dynamo steam line. A drain valve will be installed in the low point of the T alongside the smoke box.

Paul Dalleska is the snake charmer who makes those single pipe runs conform to the boiler. Using the Acorn table and a simple pipe bending fixture along with heat, the required fit appears thanks to experience. True functional art.

Terry Douglas and Tom Walker team up on the milling machine to put a 10” radius on all the spring straps. Jerry Cunnington helped out on this project. The original 4 spring sets for axles 1 and 2 were in good shape with no broken or cracked leaves. We cleaned and painted them after the new radius was established.

Jerry Peters continues the overhaul of our second K240 Dynamo by painting the red insulating varnish on all the internal case components. These dynamo case parts had already been sand blasted and primed with gray Clovaprime.

The frame was prepared for paint with a fresh coat of Clovapime. Items that had received finish black Armor coat have been masked against overspray. Lynn Willis and Gene Augustine used wire wheel and 3M pads following a wipe down with brake clean on areas contaminated with thread cutting oil.

Temperature in the shop was raised to 50° before Mike McKervey spent about two hours after the crew had left for the day, to complete the primer coat. The next day, James Keene followed up with wire brush and flapper disks removing accumulated paint from inside the tapered holes where brake hanger tapered bolts will fit. All threaded holes and mounting points are masked or plugged with paper cups. During our Christmas break the frame and waste sheets will receive Black Armour coat which at 50° will take about 4 days to cure tac free.

Work continues on the gibbs and spring clips in anticipation of getting the drivers back under 557. The refurbished driving boxes with new Babbitt liners are expected back from Steam Services of America any day. Pat Garley at Arctic Fires Bronze has finished casting all 8 replacement shoes.

Some worn spring clips will be replaced by Jerry Cunnington starting with a piece of 2” plate. After 10 minutes the cut was complete, and it will go to the Cincinnati Shaper for the next step.

557 Gang, true to type in masks. Paul Dalleska, Ken Elmore, Jim Keene, Terry Douglas, Mike McKervey, Jerry Peters, Pat Durand, Jerry Cunnington. Must be practice for the Great Train Robbery.

From the 557 Crew “We wish you Merry Christmas and success in the new Year!” We all look forward to welcoming you on board the Santa Express.

Patrick J. Durand
President 557

 

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