Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report September 2022

Summer came and went at the 557 Engine House and September continued the gloom and wet weather pattern. Several visitors did brighten our days and steady progress continued.

Butch Northrop from Surprise, Arizona came by for his second visit in two years. His son, Don and daughter in-law, Julie live here in Palmer. They commented on all the progress being made and they all look forward to riding behind 557. Butch is a retired machinist who is rebuilding a Silver Ghost Rolls, just for fun.

On September 7, Robert Wraith and wife, Louise from Sidney, Montana took the tour with Elizabeth Keating. Elizabeth recalled visiting with Monte Holm in Moses Lake and the treat of a Werther's hard candy. They were surprised we continue that tradition. Robert may be remembered by some of the ARRC crew as he worked on the railroad here some years back.

Dave Fontes and wife Mary from Rohnert Park, California toured 557 9/10/22. Dave is well known in the live steam circles with his 2.5 scale 10 wheeler #20.

What others say:

New donor, William Taylor of Mechanicsville, VA. sent us a surprise donation of $250.00 by PayPal without any comment. I think he said everything that needed to be said. Thanks William!

From Dennis Murphy, engineer for hire, “Wow... No, I mean WOW! Things have been moving along GREAT!! I guess this beauty will, in fact, be operational in our lifetime!! GREAT JOB!”

From Steve Silverstein who wrote our original business plan proposal for the Rasmuson Foundation is retired but still interested in promoting 557. “I really appreciate your invitation and am thrilled with all the progress you have made on the 557. I am unfortunately unable to attend but grateful that my small role is still remembered. Please let everyone who is able to attend know that I would love to be there and I do intend to come up in the near future to see the 557 as she is back in operation.” 

Mark Stearns of Alaska Wood Molding Co is one of our long time in-kind-donors. He just donated over $900.00 in special tongue and groove material to be cut and installed on the tender firing deck. His comments: “The tender deck white oak is milled and ready. It has a good sealer coat of three part catalyzed commercial grade acrylic polyurethane on both faces. Once it is installed it can be sanded and recoated depending on how perfect it ultimately needs to be. It is quarter/rift sawn with a net thickness of 1 1/16”. Probably way too nice but it fit the bill and I had the material handy.” THANK YOU Mark.

Steve Apling of CAC Plastics, LLC in Wasilla provides guidance on the latest technology in plastics that we can employ on 557. Many of the pipe brackets we make are produced from High Density PVC, no rot or rust, low abrasion, no paint required. Did I say strong, and easy to machine with wood working tools? Thanks to CAC Plastics!

Sean Mesloh and his wife took an extended 2 hour tour of 557 with Jeff DeBroeck on Sept 17th. He commented, “Things are looking great. The guys have produced work that is thorough and professional.  The phase we’re in is very exciting.” Sean is a 557 Board Member and also the Chief Mechanical Officer of the Alaska Railroad Corporation.

After 10 years, you would think there would be nothing left to sand blast. Simulating a dust storm on Mars, Gene Augustine tackled the job of blasting the two branch pipes that connect the super heater header with the cylinder block. He wears the positive air hood equipped with the proper air/oil filters provided by a separate oilless compressor.

After some custom fitting the new Armstrong oilers have been prelubed and installed in the driving box cellars. The main bearings now have positive top lubrication from the mechanical lubricators, and enjoy passive lubrication applied by the Armstrong oilers across the bottom of the axles as they rotate.

In preparation for a special event on October 8th we did a temporary fit of the front coupler. Final adjustments will await until the tubes, flues, and a hydro tell us exactly where the frame will set in operational trim.

While we had the smoke box front off the locomotive we took the opportunity to sand blast it and then give it a treatment of hot linseed oil and graphite. Using two Oxygen/Propane torches the sheet was brought up to about 230° F and the preheated mixture was brushed on. Gene Augustine, Lynn Willis and Mike Bridges did most of the work while I managed the temperature sensor. This combination cured over two days.

The clouds cleared on September 24th and 557 was coaxed out of the engine house door for the first time on her wheels. This was a clearance check, and we had to shorten the Dynamo exhaust stack by 1/2 “ to clear. She was standing proud in the sun. The Saturday Crew took a bow, Tom Walker, Terry Douglas, Dean Sawyer and Jeff DeBroeck. Mike McKervy was painting while Jerry Cunnington was back to machining tapered studs, Pat Durand took the photo.

557 was soon back in the house being dressed up with a smiling smoke box face and lighting in anticipation of her next big event.

Hope to see you along the tracks when 557 is back in steam.

 

Patrick J. Durand
President Engine 557 Restoration Company

 

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