Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report August 2023

Engine 557 Restoration Company held the Annual Board of Directors Meeting on August 8th. Thanks to VP Scott Hicks for hosting us at the Lynden Transport Office in Anchorage. John Combs and Paul Bates attended by ZOOM and this is the view they had of the gathering. Guest in attendance were volunteers, CMO Jeff DeBroeck, Tom Walker and consultant, Paul Dalleska. Terry Stefani and Terry Douglas attended and were nominated to the Board of Directors by President, Patrick Durand. Board members at conclusion of the meeting left to right. Terry Douglas, VP Scott Hicks, Dale Wade, President, Patrick Durand, Secretary, Dick Morris, Treasurer, Jane Walker and Terry Stefani. Attending by ZOOM, Webmaster John Combs and COO Paul Bates. Sean Mesloh could not attend.

Shawn Solowan is a young steam enthusiast from Alberta. He brought his Engineer dad to 557 for a tour as one of their Alaskan bucket list items.

August 15th Gene Augustine made a 557 presentation for the weekly Tuesday evening meeting of the Alaskan Prospectors Society in Anchorage. If you are a new or old resident of Alaska with interest in travel about the state and socializing with like minded folks, drop in any Tuesday at 7 pm. in the First United Methodist Church at 725 W. 9th Ave. The Society has always been supportive of Engine 557 and we look forward to welcoming members on board when 557 is in Steam. No picks and shovels required.

Four year old Ben brought his Mom, Amanda and Dad, Adam to the 557 Engine House on August 18th. Ben has been reading Ol’ 556 third edition by Shannon Cartwright. He got to be engineer for the day as Dad took his photo in the cab seat. Ben sent us a nice Thank You with a 4 year old’s perspective of 557. Alaska Railroad Bear* is now his new favorite friend according to Amanda. *ARR Bear is a 5” tall stuffed teddy in blue with an ARR logo on the chest. Long out of production, the one and only bear really wanted to go home with Ben.

August 19 saw a visit by three generations of the Posey family. (Left to right, Gary Walker, Jim Posey, Joel Biech, back row Paul Biech, Dale Posey.) Jim Posey ,the patriarch of the clan, has been a live steam friend for 50 years. Jim donated the wheels and axles under our welding cart. His Son, Dale was joined by Sons in Law Gary and Paul. Grandson Paul Biech completed the crew. So where were all the Posey Women? They were enjoying a day out at the pistol range with a safety meeting. Only in Alaska.

What other people say: Matanuska Susitna Borough Mayor 
“Thanks for all your hard work.   Edna”  

Please go to: www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards and select "Engine 557 Restoration Company" at "Reenroll or link your Rewards Card now." In the last quarter Fred Meyer donated $89.49 to 557 at the direction of 88 families. This is a painless way to contribute to the project.

Volunteers come to 557 with a wide range of skills and life experience. I asked Tom Walker to describe how he became involved and committed to the restoration project. In his own words.

“I came to 557 in 2016 after returning to Alaska and retiring as a profession mechanical engineer. The first day I walked into the 557 engine house I knew I had finally “returned home”. Pat Durand introduced himself and I was surprised to recognize the name from John Combs AlaskaRails website and Pat’s photos of his excellent model RR dioramas. I asked Pat if he could use a mechanical engineer and he said “sure but really we can use anybody”. As I worked in with the regular volunteer crew I became more and more fascinated with the engine because it embodied all the fundamentals of mechanical engineering - thermodynamics and machine design. But being green to a real life-sized steam locomotive it took time to become familiar with the components, vocabulary, tools and methods of steam engine restoration. In time my knowledge grew by observing, OJT, trial and error, and instruction from Pat and fellow volunteers. Many lessons learned came from some of our highly skilled crew patient enough to put up with the “ignorance” of a schooled engineer not familiar with real world mechanics or able to figure out solutions to difficult technical problems. Over the years I’ve encountered and become friends with some of the best people I know willing to do anything or any job to move the 557 project along, a life lesson in itself. The 557 restoration would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of Pat and the 557 volunteer crew, and I’m proud to say I’m one of ‘em.”

In anticipation of pending Hydro Test on the 557 boiler the crew has been tempering the 6700 gallons of water in the tender. Over 10 days it maintained 67°F just with passive heating. With no "house steam" at the 557 engine house, options were considered for getting the water closer to 80°F. Shopping on line we found a brand new Rheem 50 gallon water heater for $120.00. NO venting or fuel storage required. Mike Richardson, a retired plumber walked through the door right when we needed him. Consultant Paul Dalleska approved a design and with the help of Gene Augustine and Terry Douglas they scrounged the circulating pump, hoses, most of the plumbing. An additional $80.00 in ball valves and hose adapters saw the job done.

As a trial we plumbed out of the tender bottom into the circulating pump at the bottom of the heater and connected the delivery hose to the top output. For now the hose just goes into the water hatch on top of the tender. With the hydraulic head in the tender the pump only needs to lift water about 10 inches to complete the cycle. Now we can calculate how long it takes to raise the water volume of the tender by 5 degrees. Eventually this heater will be fed from the blowdown valve on one side of the firebox water leg and water circulated into the blowdown on the other side. Nice slow control for bringing the boiler up to a comfort zone for the Hydro Test.

Work continued through August to address the few weeps in the boiler we encountered with a 50 lb. air test. After beading of the tubes and flues in the front sheet they received the 2nd rolling. Jerry Cunnington set up the tooling across the front of the smoke box and Terry Douglas operated the suspended air motor while rolling the super heater flues.

Welding Rod Hansen is completing finish work up in the fire box.

Some of the rivets and bolts in the flange mount for the smoke box front had their heads worn away by fly ash and sand. Those affected are being removed and replaced. Gene Augustine is on the job and we have just received replacement rivets from Jay-Cee Sales and Rivet Inc.

Michael Charles McKervey came to 557 as a volunteer in 2014 and did all the tasks assigned in good humor. His life was lost to lung cancer on June 1, 2023. He requested that a memorial include the many shop mates he enjoyed during his time with us here. His family agreed and on August 9th, 2023 we all gathered to share our memories.

We closed with this simple Railroaders Prayer.
“At the end of the day, help me to be grateful for the people I have met, the things I have moved, the circuits I have restored, the signals I have maintained and the false partial activations I have repaired. Remind me to leave the bulletin in the lead locomotive, to secure the reverser and to leave the cab clean for the next crew. After I mark off, give me restful sleep - help me to mark on tomorrow with renewed vim, vigor, and a sense of purpose.”

“At the end of my run, I hope to meet the Superintendent and shake his hand. I hope to hear him speak the words, 'Well done, good, faithful, safe and dedicated servant.' I hope to see many of my colleagues and friends who made my journey possible, who have enabled me to see many wonderful things and places along the way and who have helped me arrive safely at my home terminal.”

Amen

 

Patrick J. Durand
President Engine 557 Restoration Company

 

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