The month of May presented with fantastic weather for working on the tender and other projects outside the engine house. Even so, the tender was tented to capture all the blast media for recovery. The sand blast equipment was fed by our Perkins powered Gardner Denver compressor.

Temperatures in the 60’s and up to 75° made it possible to apply the Clovaprime epoxy primers immediately after sand blasting sections of the tender. Two masked men are getting the first coat applied. The blasted surfaces all received primer. When the tender is right side up the remaining vertical areas will be blasted and primed.

With the tender rolled up on its side we did discover some old welds and stress cracks around the water connection boss on the right side. Old welds were removed and cracks stitched up on the outside. The area is being reinforced with a large collar on the inside.

Meanwhile work continues inside the tender with needle scaling. Soon these areas will be sand blasted and preserved with a finish of Apexior 3. Two replacement baffles have been produced and are ready for installation.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation Open House was held in Fairbanks this year on May 9th. Art Chase who lives in North Pole set up a really nice display, sold some fine art, tube sections and spread the word. Art discussed the project with supporter John Kanarr. The three hour event garnered about $1,000.00 for the project.

Dick Morris is our Secretary Treasure and along with Maria Keffer make up our grant writing team. He forwarded this brief email.

Dear Mr. Morris:         

On behalf of the Tom E. Dailey Foundation, I am pleased to notify you that the Board has approved your application for a grant. An award in the amount of $2,000 will be mailed to you in the next two weeks at the address provided on your application.                              

Congratulations, and best wishes for the continued success of your organization.                             

Sincerely,                             

Thomas Kossler        
Director of Administration 

Please extend our appreciation to the Tom E. Dailey Foundation for their financial support. Here is the formal announcement of the Dailey Grant.

Inquiring minds want to know, Who won the raffle? The drawing for the Denali Car day trip and other prizes was held on May 12, 2015. Total raised for restoration $10,455.00 after expenses.

The winners were:
Sally G. Allee   of Palmer, Alaska
1st Prize  Denali business car day trip to Seward on the Alaska Railroad.    

Ken Evans of Anchorage
2nd Prize   6 RT tickets Anchorage Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad and 3 rooms at Chena Hot Springs Resort.   

Virginia White    of Palmer, Alaska
3rd Prize   Print #96   of "Extra 557 Returning" by J. Craig Thorpe

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Raffle. A very special thank you to the Alaska Railroad Corporation and Chena Hot Springs Resort who donated the fantastic prizes.

Work continues on many fronts at the same time. Couplers have been disassembled and subjected to dye penetrant testing and then examined for wear. Propane heat from three burners plus two rosebuds was required to make some minor adjustments in the new front flue sheet. Here some small parts are awaiting paint to cure before they can be installed on the rebuilt Nathan Lubricator. Two coats of primer and the first coat of black poly have been applied to the Tender water hatch doors.

557 stands proudly in this smoke box end view, as if waiting for the dressers to prepare for for the next stage of life.

The crew started early on Saturday, May 30, 2015 working in the shade of the engine house doing early morning prep for painting the drivers. A final coat of primer was applied and quickly cured. The local Wasilla RODDA Paint store managed by Justin Larrabee has generously donated the Clovaprime and Rodda paint system products used in 557 restoration.

By noon the primer and white tires had been applied. By 2 PM Jeff DeBroeck, CMO was instructing the crew on masking the white tires.

Both Mike McKervey and Jeff Debroeck were painting black finish color by 4:30 PM. Within two hours the masking was removed. Soon after the Jeff posed with the drivers arranged in order. After a 12 hour day in the sun Jeff himself was a little red skinned, a small price to pay for the view of the drivers in line as they will appear under 557. The crew wrapped up about 8:00 p.m. as the shadows grew longer under the bright evening sun, here in the "Land of the Midnight Sun". Now the drivers will go back in their cradles and into dry warm storage at Roteq Alaska until needed.

The entire Saturday crew deserves recognition for staying with the job until it was done. In addition to Jeff and Mike, Ron Dudley, Dean Sawyer and Stewart Sterling, who took many of the photos, made the day a big success. Now with the summer tour ship schedules in effect progress is interrupted by at least 5 morning Northbound trains and 5 Southbound consists such as cruise train 4328. Each time the 557 volunteers make a point to greet the passengers with a wave of invitation.

Steam Services of America, Robert Franzen, will be hands on with 557 in June and July, directing the installation of the new firebox components. The 557 Mechanical Department Volunteers are arranging their summer schedules to maximize their time here at the engine house to support this effort. They will be going from a four day per week to a 7 day per week call out.

This is a very expensive job, $400,000 unanticipated in the original budget, which includes replacement sheets, their fitting, manufacture and installation of 1,043 stay bolts along with all the required tooling and the certified welding.

Engine 557 Restoration Company needs financial support at all levels to keep this work on schedule. If you have donated in the past please consider this worthy project once again. Challenge grants of $5,000 to $10,000 by individuals always result in matching funds from other individuals in smaller amounts. These sort of prime the pump of enthusiasm.

Art Chase came up with the idea of offering sponsorships for tubes and flues. This promotion is going quite well, with many folks purchasing multiple tubes for memorials, and birthday presents. Visit the 557 DONATE page to review some suggested ways to contribute.

When in Wasilla, Alaska take the time to visit with 557. Just call in advance at 907 350 4340.

Patrick J. Durand, President

P.S. As a teaser, Stewart Sterling has created a library of s-160 locomotives in video segments. These are contemporary and historical images. We look forward to adding 557 to this steaming gallery.

Make all donations to: Engine 557 Restoration Company at the above address.
An Alaskan 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation, EIN 46-2663256

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