Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report November 2024

Winter arrived with only a trace of snow and on November 9th the parking lot was still bathed in sunlight at 8:45 a.m. A week later we changed the reporting time to 9:00 a.m. and we were in the grip of winter with a beautiful sunrise and hoarfrost growing at 6 °. On November 30th while waiting for the North Bound Aurora passenger train at 9:45 a.m. this sunrise greeted me at -2°. Very shortly the Aurora passed through on schedule and did not disappoint. Living in Alaska requires continual optimism and persistence, in just 23 shortening days, they will start getting longer.

AND NOW, A WORD TO OUR SPONSORS
Why "to our sponsors?" That's because it is directed at you, the financial supporters and sponsors who have underwritten the overhaul and restoration of Engine 557. On Giving Tuesday, December 3, we will be officially kicking off our annual fund raising campaign. Starting then you can expect a flurry of posts highlighting 12 years of progress towards returning 557 to operation, particularly the substantial progress of 2024, along with numerous requests for your financial support. If you have given in the past, you can also expect a letter asking for your continuing support. We have secured pledges for $20,000 in matching contributions, a one-for-one dollar match for any contribution made, starting today. Please consider contributing, contributing early, and having your contribution doubled.
Contact information to contribute via credit card, debit card, Paypal, or check click here. You are also welcome to pay a visit to the 557 Engine House, take a tour, and leave a generous contribution.
A bonus! If you contribute right away we won't send you a pesky fund raising letter. As a double win, an early contribution will also allow an extra 73 cents to go towards restoration funding. The Engine 557 Restoration Company does not receive or ask for any government funding. Its restoration has totally been funded by the contributions of individuals, businesses, and non-profit foundations with a little bit of help from the sale of hats, pins, and prints. All labor for our fund raising is done by volunteers, there is no percentage taken off the top for professional fund raisers or for paid staff. And now, back to our regular programming.

That announcement came from Dick Morris the 557 Board Secretary and the person behind our successful annual fund raising campaigns. Our hope is you can help make it a roaring event for 2024!

Jerry Ritter of Charlottesville, Virginia sent us a $500.00 check that was immediately matched by a generous grant from Paul Bates our Chief Operating Officer. Jerry is author of civil war histories, an active model railroader, and former member of the Northern Lights Model Railroad Club. Jerry was the first to qualify for the match.

Gene Lindfors and Dave Hunz , both crew on the White Pass #73 and visited 557 on Nov 27th. We thank them for their visit at Engine 557 in Wasilla on November 27th. They left behind a $400.00 donation that was immediately matched. I followed up with a thank you note. “Hope the work you witnessed met your expectations. As Crew on #73 in Skagway, I understand your perspective is from the cab and it is someone else that keeps all that commotion working. We do enjoy visits from professionals who can spread the word for the 557 mission. I have added you both to the contact list to receive our Monthly Status Report via email. Your major donation is being matched as part of our year end fund raiser.”

John and Andrea Dittrich of Anchorage sent 557 a memorial donation of $50.00 in memory of our mutual friend Robert Dikfoss Jr. Rob touched a lot of lives and we just matched the donation as part of our year end fund raiser. Thank you!

David Kmetz of Berwick Maine, has donated regularly in 2024 and we just totaled it out at $200.00 requiring a formal Thank You! David commented, “Enclosed is another donation toward your efforts. Thanks for all you do! We are hoping to visit in 2025!”

David Cowee, of Reno, has been making regular fall donations since October of 2020. He visited 557 with his family August 17, 2024 and since, generous contributions have arrived nearly monthly. Thank you David! We are reserving a special place for you when 557 returns to service.

Hilde and Tom Simco are well known in the railroad restoration world, particularly among the narrow minded. They see 557 every other year during visits with family in Alaska and have been regular contributors. Their check for $1,000 just arrived for the year end fund raiser, and it has been matched!

Monday the 11th being Veterans Day we collected two of our volunteers Ron Dudley and Patrick Durand from the 557 Mechanical Department to recognize them. Ron served as a Chaplain's Assistant in the Big Red One assigned to 472 Sig BN near Quy Nhon. Pat was a member of the 55th MI Detachment and an Order of Battle Analyst in the G2 Section of I Field Force in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Thanks to all who served.

In the mail we received a model of 557 creatively made from a mailing tube and bits of pieces applied with hot glue. In true form a 2-8-0 consolidation in the famous rods down pose takes shape. A whistle with an orange pull cord is included. This creation came to us from “Lucas”, obviously a famous person like Prince, Madonna, Oprah etc. all known by a single name. Thanks to Lucas for thinking of 557 as worthy of your attention and talents. Sleuthing on the mailing box we located a return address stamp for Kenai, Alaska. Lucas Paulk visited with his dad “Jake” back on June 15th. His note comments, “Thank you for restoring a critical part of Alaskan History. Your team are doing an awesome job at 557. You are blessed with love and money. The loco is in bubble wrap please open carefully. Lucas.”

As to being blessed with love and money, on reflection the 557 project survives on the love of our volunteers and supporters. From the beginning we have never been without funds, although close at times. Our year end funding campaign, provides the cushion needed for the following year. 557 Secretary, Dick Morris is leading our 2024 Campaign for Engine 557 Restoration Company. He deserves extra recognition for making it a success for 12 years running.

Charles Taylor recently made a PayPal donation that 557 acknowledged. Charles responded "I have been a long time contributor in small amounts. I "bought" one of the boiler tubes several years ago.....I wanted to tell you that from 2013 to 2022, I worked as rail guide for Princess on the MEX. We ran Whittier to Talkeetna (R/T) on Saturdays and Wednesdays. We were the single level ARR dome cars. I had a scrapbook I passed around to the guests with pictures and info on 577 restoration. I would tell the story of how it was saved from scrap in Washington, purchased and returned to Alaska by the Jansen brothers and how it was being restored by volunteers. As we approached your place, I would say, ' If the volunteers have time, they will probably come out and wave at us.' Well, you guys nearly always did and we waved back. If you ever spotted me, I was the guy always giving you the thumbs up. Pat, thank you and all your team for the monumental work. Looking forward to the highball!”

November 12th, Jim and Jane Iskiyan from Tucson made one of their regular pilgrimages to visit 557…. actually they came North for a family event and brought daughter Mesha Hennessy and husband Archie for the Engine House Tour. Several years ago they retired and sold their embroidery shop. Fortunately they kept a couple of machines active at home. They are Arizonans bearing gifts, and delivered twelve Navy dark blue 557 hats for our gift shop. $25.00 will get you one!

East Tennessee Rail Car Services, Charlie Poling, has donated a set of brake handles for the Engine 557’s 26 automatic brake stand upgrade.  A brass 26 automatic brake handle and a steel offset independent handle are on their way to Alaska.  Brice Douglas tracked these down and Charlie, responded, "We should be able to help with both.  Love your project, btw."  Thanks for your support of preservation projects like ours. - Charlie and East Tennessee Rail Car Services. 

Chanstin Victory is a victim of Ferraequineosis at the age of 12. He brought his granddad Tom for the 557 tour. Chanstin has been following 557 on Facebook, but is now on our contact list for the 557 Monthly Status Report so he will get a monthly dose of steam stuff to keep his “Iron Horse Disease” in check. He took the opportunity to be Engineer for the day.  

 

Back in the shop:

On Saturday, Nov 9th we had a good turnout of volunteers, a very dependable group.
CMO Jeff DeBroeck, Terry Douglas, Jerry Cunnington, Dean Sawyer, Tom Walker, Ron Dudley, and Ken Morton.

We have been blessed with four new experienced volunteers. Some may contribute a day per week and some more.

Mozes Halseide
At 21 Mozes is the youngest of our current volunteers but he comes with railroad experience as an onboard steward on HAP private tour cars for two years. He did daily inspections and serviced the all important on board HVAC equipment. Currently working construction during the week, he plans to make a future in the Railroaders life style. He has welding certifications and fits right in with the 557 Crew profile.

Seth Stewart
Is a long time Air Force heavy mechanic on C-17 and other active aircraft out of Elmendorf Air Force Base. An experienced fabricator and YOTA enthusiast, he went right to work on the Acorn table adjusting the sheet metal that forms the closure between the branch pipes and the inside of the smoke box. He came to us on recommendation by Frankie Buonanno, one of his co-workers. His family also lives near by.

Frankie Buonanno
Crew Chief on C-17's he is full time Air Force, keeping them flying. As a volunteer he hit the ground running right into the smoke box to finish cleaning the Super Heater Headers. Frankie and his family live just a short distance from the 557 Engine House here in Wasilla.

Daniel Silbaugh
Flies MD11 freighters for FedEx Corporation and does 4 day layovers in Anchorage. His alter passion is railroad history and from his home in Colorado he volunteers for projects at the COMO roundhouse. Very knowledgeable guy and we are fortunate that he wants to donate some of his time on layover unwinding with Engine 557.

Studs securing the blast nozzle had long ago rusted away in the exhaust. Terry Douglas drew the job of making the required replacement studs on the Lodge and Shipley. We have installed official Caterpillar part #95-3622 thread inserts in the four holes at the top of the blast nozzle.

While trial fitting the sander pipe between drivers 3 and 4 we needed to install the brake hanger to ensure clearances in tight quarters. Fitting the front sander pipes are a bit easier.

Our retired NASA electrician, Ken Elmore picks up a lot of odd jobs. Painting all the air valve handles WHITE was one of them. This quickly identifies the air valves among all the options. Ken needed help locating step lights, or ground effect lights from EMD. The word went out on Facebook and Scott Kwiatkowski responded with four units from old new stock as a donation to 557. When we offered to pay the postage, his response, “No need to reimburse me for the shipping. I've had a lot of help over the years with my two SW1's, just paying it forward.” He did request a short cab ride if he ever makes it up to ride 557.

Paul Dalleska, lead the crew of Keith Nore, Gerry Christiansen and Ken Elmore in building a set of Washout tools. The longest for reaching across the crown sheet to flush between the crown stays is just over 7 feet long. This is the view from inside the boiler looking to the rear. Tool nozzle orientation is indicated by the tab welded on the side of the wand while providing a lug to hold onto when the union is being loosened. Looking through the front left corner washout plug you can see a washout tool coming through the hole for the blow down valve right on the mud ring. Shorter tools can reach over the fire box door and along the mud ring. Keith tested the flow while connected to a trash pump that will move 40 gallons a minute. Final touch was a coat of OSHA purple which will adorn all our boiler maintenance tools so they do not get lost.

November 11th we had a surprise visit from Daniel Sypult, Dillon Jackson, Bret Gallagher, and TJ Moyer from our local Sunbelt Rentals dealer. Daniel Sypult, the manager has offered the loan of equipment and people from their operation if we have a need. During the discussion they offered to come and plow snow in our parking lot whenever they do their own, just a quarter mile away. They took the tour and Daniel responded, “Thank you so much again for spending time with us today! We talked a lot about how impressive this project is. We are very impressed by your work, and it makes us all the more excited to help out any way we can.” Sunbelt is the latest addition to our In-Kind-Wall of Honor. Take note the parking lot is clear in all the photos.

For November we recognize long term In-Kind champion, Independent Truck Lift of Alaska. Back in 2012, Larry Erickson was a regular volunteer with 557 and he observed that a small high lift LP Gas fork lift would be really helpful around the developing 557 Engine House. As a semi retired heavy equipment mechanic, Larry did contract repairs in the field for Independent Truck Lift of Alaska. He approached the company about the possible loan of a fork lift for the project. Warren Dick, President of ITL of Alaska came on board the 557 in-kind train with the loan of a Cat GC25k LP Truck. The little Cat proved invaluable as it was small enough to maneuver in the shop building, servicing the three levels of the Unistrut shelving, and moving the rods, machine tools and all those hernia inducing pieces.

Over time #1 was joined by two hand me downs from the Alaska Railroad Surplus yard, a very well used Cat VO80 and a Case 721 loader. Both required some work to put in service. We located a set of Forks for the Case loader and then we had a trio ready to lift the heaviest components.

The little Cat was handy for setting up mobile work stations. It unloaded fuel totes and lifted them high enough to gravity feed the tender fuel bunker. Eventually, Jerry Cunnington rebuilt the brakes but the machine has provided faithful service for the past 12 years with minimal maintenance, fuel, oil, and an occasional grease job. Independent Truck Lift of Alaska has gone above and beyond in providing uplifting support of Engine 557 Restoration Company. When you need a lift you know who to call!

We have much to be thankful for going into this Holiday Season. Our Volunteers and their families, our In-Kind family of Business Partners, our Financial Sponsors large and small, for the many blessings they bring to 557. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Be safe and we look forward to seeing you along the tracks.

Patrick Durand
President Engine 557 Restoration Company

 

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