Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report October 2024

The difference between possible and impossible is persistence.
We have lots of persistence.

Dear Friends and Supporters of Engine 557,

This is a long report so jump right in.

October 26 broke with a clear blue sky and no wind. There had been a hard freeze the night before, warming up to 36° by the time 557 was pulled out of the engine house with our 721 Loader. The crew then maneuvered to install the cab. Bathed in sunlight for the first time in two years 557 posed. With that punch list item done, they began spreading tarps and deflectors under the boiler washouts while conducting a full boiler clean out. Amazing how much junk collects inside the boiler over 8 years since it was closed up. Among the crew were Jerry Cunnington, CMO Jeff DeBroeck, Ken Morton, Dean Sawyer and Tom Walker. 557 was taking the sun while the crew had lunch and then cleaned up and rolled her back into the shop ready to continue on to the next big challenge, the first fire. Setting on the engine house lead, 557 gathered visitors and observers from the highway overpass nearby. Congratulations to the crew!

Next day follow up included alignment and securing of all the Cab brackets. Paul Dalleska, Shay Sullivan and Ken Elmore went a little farther by attaching all the hand rails and securing the step. Shay was 20 years old when he started with 557, then took time for school where he is getting an associates degree and then going on for an engineering degree. He had a few days to dedicate to 557 and we were glad to see him.

Our Engine 557 Board of Directors members are all actively involved in the mission of 557 Restoration. Jane Walker, Treasurer, processes bank deposits, corporate and private donations, and copies of receipts to be cross checked with the Corporate credit card. Some of those notes are less than legible. Accounting all this data, using QuickBooks, she regularly responds to calls for available fund reports. Jane is a CPA with many other accounts but does all this work and our IRS filings as a donation to 557. Her efforts keep us in compliance with our 501 (C) (3) non profit obligations and writes Acknowledgment thank you letters in response to all donations of $250.00 or more. We are fortunate to have Jane Walker and her skills available to Engine 557. Wish Jane, a Happy Birthday on November 1, 2024. Thank her for her service to Engine 557. Jane also bakes an award winning sourdough bread.

Friends and Donors:

David Cowee, of Reno, Nevada has been a regular contributor to Engine 557 since October 2020. His family visited Engine 557 in August 2024. He sent us another $200.00 gift for moving toward first fire. David and his wife also want to be on our Summer Solstice trip to Seward aboard the AuRoRa, if it comes to pass that we can do it again in 2025.

I sent this message as a personal thanks to Ron Abbot of Gold Canyon, Arizona. “Thanks for the nice $250.00 donation by Pay Pal for benefit Engine 557. Since you have witnessed the process here during your past visits, I hope the finished product will exceed your expectations. It will be helpful to know what motivated your donation at this time. Was it the appearance of our QR code on our September 557 Status Report? Our intent is to make it easier for folks to show support.” Ron responded, “Yes the ease of making a donation that will be secure was my motivation. We lived in Palmer for 34 yrs and occasionally dropped in to watch the progress. You were always there and made us welcome. You graciously answered all the questions from myself, my children and later even my grand children. Awesome project ,thanks to you and your staff. God bless you!”

John Payne and Jennifer Sims of Richfield, Washington, followed up their September visit at 557 with a very generous donation of $1,000 for Operating Costs. Their grandson Hunter who lives in Willow, Alaska came along with a curiosity for everything Steam. We expanded his horizons with the realities of a full blown restoration and I am sure he will be back for more.

Gloria Corey formerly of Fairbanks has moved to Homer, a comparative tropical spot. She sent another $100.00 donation in memory of her husband, William A. Corey. Gloria relates, “On the cold winter coal trains pulling 100 cars from Healy to Fairbanks, his Brakeman was usually Gale Weatherell. Bill was best known for his train handling of long trains in the winter. On summer freights his brakeman was Karl Thumma. His last 5 years, he was engineer on the passenger train on the North Fairbanks end.” Editors note: In the steam days train crews from Anchorage usually laid over or changed trains in Healy to come Southbound. Train crews from Fairbanks did the same, picking up Northbound equipment. Loaded coal trains originated in Healy and were picked up by crews who delivered the empty hoppers and commonly returned to Fairbanks on the same 12 hour day.

557 received a Pay Pal memorial contribution from Mike Stepner of Puyallup Washington. I sent him this note: “Thank you for your $125.00 memorial contribution in memory of our 557 friend and supporter, Robert Dickfoss. When we needed an extra hand for off site exhibits and displays related to railroads, we could count on Rob. The day before his passing, he signed on to represent 557 in our crew at the Great Alaskan Hobby Show. We missed him then and always will. The first day we rolled 557 into the engine house, 12 years ago, he was there to help. We shared the hobby of model railroading and just kept aging up to the real thing! Rob provided us all with great memories.” I just received this follow up from Mike Stepner. “Well I  met Robert online, train stuff, met him in person a couple years later at the Monroe train show. He's one of those guys you just gotta like. My mom had recently lost her husband and her and Robert became online friends thru my connection with him. I don't think Robert ever knew how much he helped her thru that. The 557 project has a bit of personal connection too, it was at the scrap yard in Moses Lake, Washington when I was a kid. Small world ain't it. So this was in my mind a good way to pay tribute to Robert.”

Another mutual friend, Margaret DeLisio sent 557 a donation in memory of Robert Dickfoss.

Just received another Memorial contribution from Susan Hill in Collyville, Texas. “In Loving memory of Robert Dickfoss, Love, Aunt Sue and the Gudgel family.”

Long time 557 friend, Dave Syren, uses a helicopter to commute between Anchorage, Palmer and his passion project in Kennecott Alaska. He is building a private museum at Kennecott to include railroad artifacts and classic automobiles connected to the boom times of Kennecott and McCarthy. This note from Dave Syren accompanied an unexpected donation of $2,000. and note, “Your personal assistance with materials round-up for a Kennecott railroad project has been terrific!”

Dave continued, “The Kennecott Historic Landmark District features a Copper Mining Ghost Town within Wrangell St. Elia National Park and Preserve. The mine was serviced from 1911 to 1938 by the Copper River Northwester railroad (CR&NW) and was dubbed the “Can’t Run and Never Will” at times. After shutdown of the mine much of the track was removed. I’ve worked towards replacing some of that rail in Kennecott for historic purposes and as a platform for future stationary displays of CRNW railroad Speeders, a brush cutter and even several automobiles that were made to run on the rails during operation of the mine. I am hoping with materials now on hand that I can replace 180 feet of CR&NW track within the Historic Landmark District of Kennecott in 2025 for visitors to encounter and enjoy.” Dave Syren

Visitors:

Lee Klinger of Northumberland, Pennsylvania made a return visit on October 14th. He visits Alaska with his wife as part of a church mission volunteer crew on a regular summer schedule. He is a fan of steam and Warbirds as a veteran of the Air National Guard. Lee is machinist mechanic in a crew of 21 for a large commercial bakery at home, so mechanical systems are a passion.

Max Walton and his son, Phineas visited on Saturday, October 26, when 557 was taking the sun when rolled out to receive her cab and a boiler washout. Phineas is 6 years old, and his first question was “Where are the rods?” That is the first time ever the question has come from a visitor. Rods are all cleaned and in storage until needed. In short order he was explaining Walschaerts Valve gear as he swung the expansion link. Sure hope he is around in 15 years to help us with the 1492 day inspection. From Max, “Pat, thank you so very much for letting us come out and visit this morning, Phineas can't stop talking about it. I know it is a memory that will stick with him forever. It was amazing getting to see 557 outside on such a beautiful day!”

On October 23, Nichole, Ben and 9 year old Lincoln McComas took the tour of 557. Lincoln has read all about 557 online and has nearly worn out Ol' 556 by Shannon Cartwright. He was familiar with general steam operation, but took time to explore the suspension components and listened to the explanation of superheating. Nicole followed up, “Thank you again so much for letting us come tour the renovations on the 557. You were so kind, knowledgeable and generous! Lincoln had a wonderful time.” Lincoln did duties as engineer for the day. Lincoln, here is a little bonus photo of just some of those suspension parts awaiting refurbishing years ago before you were born.

From 557 Facebook Peter Hoeffner wrote, “We rode by your shop on the train from Anchorage to Talkeetna in July. Glad to see Alaska Railroad is taking good care of their heritage.”

Steve Rimple of Moses Lake Steel and Columbia Basin Sheet Metal has donated $600.00 to cover the cost of the Paint Lock 20 gauge steel for Engine 557's new jacket. “Years ago Steve committed to providing a new jacket for Gypsy, and it is now coming to pass.” Steve is the Grandson of Monte Holm, the man who saved 557 from the scrap line in Everett, Washington and displayed her in the House of Poverty Museum in Moses Lake, Washington for over 40 years. Steve has supplied the new steel tube for the super heater elements among other gifts. Another of our in-kind donors, Slayden Plumbing and Heating offered to bring in the 9 sheets of 4x10 foot 20 gauge Paint Lock at cost, landed here in Wasilla for $518.00. Great timing and generosity coming together to meet the need of a new jacket for Gypsy. What is this Gypsy stuff? When 557 and her 2119 sisters were being built, Gypsy Rose Lee was a mainline attraction in the burlesque circuit. The crews referred to the s-160's as the Gypsy Rose Lee locomotives, stripped down for action in the war zone, they had no superfluous adornments. So what do your think, should 557 carry the name Rose or Gypsy in recognition of her world wide reputation?

Back in the Shop:

While preparing for the first fire, there are dozens of jobs to attend. Day to day maintenance in running a 5000 square foot shop requires the attention of volunteers. Recently the 30+? year old compressor, one of three in the shop, burped up its 230V motor. The OEM replacement was available for $990.00. Some shopping turned up one for $130.00 plus $190 UPS to Alaska in 5 days. Terry Douglas, Ken Elmore and Paul Dalleska jumped right into giving the new unit a checkup test. In short order Paul confirmed the successful motor transplant and we had house air back with a much quieter motor. The air compressor is mounted high on a second shelf to keep it in clean air. It is plumbed to a blue air line with bibs all around the perimeter of the shop.

The final two super heater elements have been reconditioned by CMO Jeff DeBroeck and Tom Walker and are ready for installation. They are all fitted with new bands, feet and have been hydro tested. The Ball ends have a mirror finish protected by the grease lined wooden protector blocks.

Installation of the elements are waiting until the 60 tapered seats are all polished by Jeff Loffert who stepped into the smoke box and took up the task. He manufactured the alignment guide and the arbor for holding the 45° angle tool for polishing the seats in the Super Heater Header. This is the view of the header when you lay on your back and work overhead. The guide keeps the tool vertical in the work piece. Various abrasive grits are used until the tapered surface is clean. We will be fitting up the superheater elements soon.

Details are important as the cab is prepared to be set back on 557. A compression rubber gasket has been installed on the edge of the 1/8 inch thick cab wall where it will make contact with the new jacket over the top of the back head.

Terry Douglas, took on the task of reconditioning mechanical lubricators after Jerry Peters, former ARR Master Mechanic, retired. The five tube lubricators are both take offs from retired Chinese locomotives and required total rebuild. Used to lubricate the Westinghouse Cross Compound Air Pump they are air activated each time the air side of the pump takes a stroke. It has two internal chambers, one for Steam Oil and one for Air Compressor Oil. Terry manufactures the name plates at home as needed. The spare five pipe is available on short notice. These two lubricators were purchased unrestored from Robert Franzen at Steam Services of America.

Please recognize our 557 Champion In-Kind Donors.  

Much more than in-kind-donors, brothers, Jim and Vic Jansen of Lynden Logistics saved Engine 557 by purchasing her from the estate of Monte Holm in Moses Lake Washington.  They negotiated a transfer donation to the Alaska Railroad Corporation provided that the locomotive be restored within 8 years.  Chris Aadnesen, then President and CEO of the Alaska Railroad, saw to the creation of Engine 557 Restoration Company as a non-profit to carry out the work.  All this collaboration resulted in the first major fund raiser when Edward Rasmuson posted a $350,000.00 matching grant managed through the Alaska Community Foundation. 

The Lynden family of companies were there in support from the beginning moving 557 to Alaska aboard one of their ocean-going barges to Whittier.  The Alaska Railroad moved her to Anchorage along Turnagain Arm in December of 2011.  A grand arrival was staged for the community at the Anchorage Depot. Alaska West Express (yes, another Lynden company) did the heavy lift of 168,000 pounds by highway to Wasilla on August 18, 2012, and work started immediately.  

When the 4 driver sets were in cradles, a Lynden tractor and flatbed arrived to transport 28,000 pounds to the Chattanooga Railroad Museum Shops for profiling, machining and burnish hardening of all bearing surfaces.  They were returned in like new condition again aboard a Lynden flat bed.  Similar service saw movement of the 1,800-pound Westinghouse cross compound air pump to North Carolina and back after rebuilding.  

Before long a special arrangement provided free transport between Lynden’s Fife, Washington terminal and Anchorage with Lynden serving as our freight forwarder on boiler tools, boiler tubes, flues, springs, do dads and thing-a-ma-jigs.  Even a pallet of heavy leaf springs from England found their way to Anchorage thanks to Lynden.     

Scott Hicks, now President of Lynden Air Cargo has been a member of the Engine 557 Restoration Company Board of Directors since origination and today is our Vice President.  Scott is committed to seeing the Jansen brothers vision of Engine 557 in operation on the Alaska Railroad will be achieved. Let us all send a big thank you to the Lynden Everyday Heroes!    

Patrick Durand
President Engine 557 Restoration Company

 

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