Donald Oss and Mary Jo Dathe of Spring Valley Minnesota came for a tour of 557 and Purchased print #88 of "Engine 557 Returning" to help us make sure the locomotive returns to Steam. Our friend, Arnie Stoltenberg, with the Antique Power Club and the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry, always brings the most interesting visitors to study 557. Financial support for the project comes from many individuals and organizations, locally, nationally and international.

September 3rd Karl & Ley Schleich of Anchorage brought her Father, Captain Robert A. Moss. from Sequim, Washington for a visit. The next hour was a very pleasant tour. As a retired Coast Guard Captain with an extensive career, Capt. Moss was the skipper of the last Western Pacific Steam Tug operating RR car ferries on San Francisco Bay. Our discussions ranged from triple expansion marine engines to turbines and all the connective tissue that extends our common interest to steam locomotives. I hope he can come back and we can both bask in the warm mist of steam, cylinder oil and the sound of 557 in steam.

The Alaska State Fair concluded on Monday September 7th. Jerry Keffer, Jerry Peters and Terry Douglas all helped me demobilize the Fair exhibit and get it all returned to storage for the next event. Nonesentials a unique gift shop in Palmer, owned by Denise Statz, made it possible for us to meet and great thousands of people during the fair. My personal thanks to all of you who supported the effort.

Jerry Cunnington and CMO Jeff DeBroeck did final positioning of the fabricated buffer receiver. Jerry did the final weld out on the new receiver.

The entire frame casting was sand blasted and then primed with Cloverdale epoxy. While it was upside down several coats of the Cloverdale black top coat were applied. After days to cure, we proceeded with rolling the frame one last time. Careful rigging and gentle use of the Case 721 loader revealed the top side before it was set on the trucks. The frame was then finish painted by Mike McKervey. This work continues with the intention of completing rehab of the tender while securing more funding.

This is great crew training to achieve the level of finish to be lavished on the locomotive. It also gets a lot of parts, bits and pieces out of storage and installed, making more work space in the shop. An occasional warm day allows painting the tender tank outside. Jerry Cunnington is here using an orbital sander to prep the tender side for a coat of black paint. New volunteers get the very best jobs so here we introduce Scott Rice, head down cleaning up some welding repairs done around the water bung. New stainless steel screen baskets are being installed over each water bung.

Retired Alaska Railroaders, Ben Parish, Jim Sava and Gale Weatherell dropped in for a tour. These guys are camera shy evidently as I do not have any pictures of them during the inspection. We always appreciate the interest shown by past crew members in the steam fraternity.

Jerry Peters, retired Alaska Railroad Master Mechanic, created a bracket for the Automatic train brake and independent brake stand to simulate its position on the back head. All the components are being dry fitted with new piping and fittings as needed. Each component is disassembled and reconditioned with new seals and lapping where required. We are at this time retaining the 6 ET system originally supplied on the S-160.

I am personally inspired when donations arrive and I can send a personal thank you. These folks are not looking for public recognition but you may well know them anyway, so thank them. Palmer hotelier and historical preservationist, Janet Kincaid, owner of the Valley Hotel and Cafe and the Colony Inn, sent 557 a generous $500.00 contribution. Retired Valdez Fire Chief, Tom “Mac” McAlister just added another $200.00 deposit to several other contributions made over the past three years.

557 volunteer Jerry Keffer stopped by the Anchorage House of Hobbies owned by Jim and Ryan Faffuse where they maintain a collection jar and display for engine 557. Thank Mark Smith in the model railroad department for spreading the word. The pennies and dollars totaled a little over $200.00 which is now in the bank to keep 557 on schedule.

Mechanical Department volunteer, Rod Hansen is employed by ENSTAR, our local gas company here is South-central Alaska. He recommended Engine 557 Restoration Company as a worthy recipient for company surplus, specifically a Ford F650 flat stake bed with a hydraulic lift gate. The truck odometer rolled over 51,000 miles as I drove it to Wasilla from Anchorage. As a tax exempt organization registration is only $25.00 a year so it cost us very little to have this truck in our arsenal of tools in support of 557. Thanks to ENSTAR.

By now Alaska residents have received their 2015 Permanent Fund check. Please keep us in mind for a direct contribution to Engine 557 Restoration Company. We do not participate in pick click and give due to the 7% administrative fee charged on all funds collected through that program.

When in Wasilla, you are welcome to visit the restoration site. Please call in advance at 907 350 4340. Patrick Durand, President

Patrick J. Durand, President
Engine 557 Restoration Company

Click here for some of the ways you can help out.

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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