Engine 557 Restoration Company
Progress Report April 2023

The first five days of April saw the 557 volunteers learning what ever they could about preparing for a hydro test from Bob Gold and Dale Grice of Steam Services of America (SSoA). While they were rolling and beading and rolling (yes it calls for repetition) of the tubes and flues in the boiler the instruction continued. With 50 pounds of air on the boiler the crew used wet water (spray bottles with water and a little detergent) to chase down leaks and weeps.

The crew was pleased with all the new work which is tight. After 78 years, some of the original rivets, seams and studs showed a little weeping. This is expected after the stress of replacing the entire firebox, and the shock of the air hammers installing over 1000 staybolts and rivets. These will all be dealt with and watched carefully during the future hydro tests. Some of those are in locations that can not be worked until we remove the cab (this was expected) and the cab floor. We will leave the cab off until the hydro can be completed.

With the beading of flues and tubes on the fire box end complete, it was time to apply safety welds on the firebox end. To help understand the concept of safety welding here is a YouTube video explanation.

With our go to welder, “welding” Rod Hansen out of the country until June, we reached out to our business partners in the valley. Quin Raymond came to us recommended, with all the certification and years of experience required. He spent a Saturday and Sunday in the fire box following the process specified by CMO Jeff DeBroeck. Preheat each section to 200° F and make one vertical pass around half of the tube. Dressing a weld to start the next vertical pass. Move to another location and repeat. Moving about while safety welding and using the same cycle of work prevents undue stress in the tube sheet. After another three hour stint on Wednesday and the Safety Weld on Flues and Tubes was done.

Flaring tube rollers are expensive specialty tools that come in a variety of sizes. We now have 2 inch, 4.5 inch and 5.5 inch rollers in our inventory. This represents about a $12,000 investment that hopefully we will only occasionally need to tighten a joint now and then. Our wood master, David Lucas, made up storage and shipping boxes to protect them for the future. We plan to make them available for short term rentals to assist other groups involved in boiler restoration work.

Hydro test will require another visit by Robert Franzen of SSoA and then inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration before we can reinstall the fire pan, cab floor and cab. Once the fire pan is installed then the fire brick needs to be installed before we are ready to do a firing test.

All these tasks are interrelated, but can only be done in a set sequence. There is a major juggling act going on to keep productive work moving while we bring the resources on to achieve the sequence.

Most of the connecting air brake system pipe is new fabrication and has been trial fit so this was an opportunity to remove it to the painting process. Examples here with the finished painted pieces sealed with the blue tape. These assemblies are either sand blasted or wire wheeled to white metal before being primed and painted.

A new added feature will be the Graham White centrifugal air cleaners with pneumatic drains, installed prior to and after the dry air reservoir to condition air and remove oil before it hits the new 26L brake stand. The component filter bodies, will be mounted with the heads to the brackets shown on the underside of the right running board.

If it looks like two steps forward and three back, fear not we are making progress and all those sub assemblies go back together a lot faster now that they have been dry fit and tested in place.

What others say:

Dick Morris, 557 Secretary…..If you haven’t already done so, please look at the videos in the 557 YouTube Tubes and Flues playlist to get a full appreciation of what has been accomplished. (Thanks go to Terry Douglas who took most of the video and has been editing and posting it.) This would be a good time to pick your favorite video and share it with someone you know to claim some credit. Everyone who has been involved in this effort, including the Board of Directors, and 557 donors, has reason to be proud of what has been accomplished.

From Scott Hicks, President of Lynden Air Cargo and 557 Board Member and VP. “Inspired by the passion and hard work of the crew at the 557 engine house.  It must be very rewarding to those doing the work to see this milestone in the project.  The videos are a very nice touch to help document the journey.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank You!” Thx, Scott

From Jane Walker, 557 Treasurer, “I stopped by when they were nearly finished and had a guided tour and detailed explanation from Tom (my husband). I was amazed at the amount of labor and time that went into this process, in addition to the countless hours that Pat continues to put in. Well done!”

Mike Fairburn has ALCO S-160 #1631 available for sale. If you have visions of owning your very own S-160 locomotive, here is your opportunity.

A painless way to support Engine 557 is via the Fred Meyer/Kroger Community Rewards Program which currently has 28 households who named Engine 557 Restoration Company as their designated charity. In the first quarter of 2023, January through March this resulted in a donation of $78.32. To participate in the Community Rewards Program specify FM166 - Engine 557 Restoration Company when you sign in here: fmcommunityrewards@fredmeyer.com Let us boost the number of participant families to 280 and help us raise steam in 557.

Anchorage Fur Rondy ran until April 5th, and an extended crew staffed our exhibit at the Historic Alaska Railroad Depot. Special thanks to our regular 557 volunteers who are also members of the Military Society of Model Railroad Engineers, sponsor of the show. Lynn Willis, Gene Augustine and Ken Elmore were on hand to back up all those who volunteered to staff the display.

J. Craig Thorpe, commissioned to create ENGINE 557 RETURNING, has been doing a series of book signings and lectures introducing RAILROADS, ART, and AMERICAN LIFE An Artist’s Memoir. More than 150 of Craig’s illustrations grace the beautiful 92 page hard cover book. 557 is featured on page 67.

We have a limited number of the books available for pick up or delivery locally for $44.00 Please use this order form.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 16, 2023. Special Interest Tours will bring their Explore Alaska with Trains Magazine tour group to Engine 557 in Wasilla. This is from the ARR listing.
Day 7 - Sept 16th
Wasilla Engine 557 Restoration Shop Tour
Guests are in for a special experience, with a visit to the Engine 557 Restoration Company in Wasilla. We will travel by coach bus from Anchorage to Wasilla for a tour of the shop and to learn about the restoration of the Alaska Railroad’s last steam engine.

After the shop tour we will pop over to the Museum of Alaska Transportation, which houses a unique collection of vintage trains, plane and automobiles.

Our Mechanical Department Volunteers and Board Members will be on hand to greet the visitors. Should we be taking reservations for the first 557 steam trip?

Ron L. Dudley came to volunteer with Engine 557 in January of 2013. Ron and his wife Joyce had recently moved to Anchorage from Bethel where Ron had just retired from thousands of hours flying light aircraft for commercial and charter airlines in Western Alaska. They came North from Iowa and raised their family in Bethel before retiring and moving to the highlands above Eagle River.

Ron has a self deriding sense of humor, “I am just a farmer welder, and shade tree mechanic.” Left to his own devices and a plan, he would fabricate what was needed to get the job done from steel or wood. As a Vietnam war veteran he served as a Chaplains Assistant and Driver. With a degree in forestry and experience in law enforcement, his upbeat personality just projects confidence in those working with him.

After 10 years in support of the Engine 557 Restoration, Ron and Joyce are relocating again to Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in Washington State. They will be close to family and in much warmer surroundings than the Highlands above Eagle River come wintertime.

Ron’s last day with the crew was April 23, 2023 started with cleaning up the remains of our sand blast tent that had survived 10 years, finally succumbing to the record snow and winds of December. Operating the 721 loader with the same attention he gave a Cessna Caravan, he was in his element.

The crew gathered to thank Ron for his dedication and award a small token of appreciation. A presentation copy of RAILROADS, ART and AMERICAN LIFE featuring Engine 557 on page 67 & 68 signed by the days crew. Ron still has family here in the Valley and plans to be here to ride when 557 steams again.

 

Patrick J. Durand
President Engine 557 Restoration Company

 

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