The Alaska Railroad's last operating steam engine was Locomotive Number 557. The s-160 class Consolidation 2-8-0 locomotives built for the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC). between 1942 and 1945, became the largest single class of locomotives ever built in America. Of the 2120 units built, twelve found their way to Alaska. Known as GI Consolidations, or Gypsy Rose Lee locomotives (they were striped down for action) S-160's eventually found their way to every continent, but for Australia and Antarctica. There are only five examples left in North America and none are currently operational. The following links speak of Number 557's long and proud history.

• View our 7 minute video production introducing 557

• History of Locomotive 557
• Engine 557 started as a workhorse for WWII
• Globe trotting locomotives
• Heritage Stories
  • The 1960 ARR Time Table
• Alaska's Last Steamer Awaits Last Journey (excerpts from Jan.-Feb. 1965 Railbelt Reporter)
• From the National Archives
  • No. 557 sale
  • Surplusing steam (557 retention)
  • 557 bad feed valve
  • Cat vs 557
  • 557 derails
  • 557 hits truck
• Movement of #557 from the Alaska Railroad to Michelson Steel and Supply Co. (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Number 557 at Mon-Road Railroad, Michelson Steel and Supply Co.

Heritage Stories

• The 1960 ARR Time Table

From the National Archives

• No. 557 sale
• Surplusing steam (557 retention)
• 557 bad feed valve
• Cat vs 557
• 557 derails
• 557 hits truck

Technical Information on Engine 557 and Her 2,119 Sister USATC Consolidations

• ALCO s-160 specifications
• LIMA s-160 Specifications
• Scottish Centre
• Engineering drawing

Selected documents from historical Alaska Railroad business records were copied and are available in the "Before the Door Closed" section. There are already a few links to archives documents and this could be combined with them.

Technical Information on Engine 557 and Her 2,119 Sister USATC Consolidations

For more information contact us.