The July status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

A lubrication system terminal check valve has been cleaned and inspected and is now back on the shelf, ready for the pressure to be set before installation.

Something I wanted to share -

We had surprise visitors to the Engine House late Monday afternoon after everyone but Patrick Durand was gone for the day. A team from the Federal Railroad Administration, including their northwestern steam locomotive specialist stopped by to review the progress of 557's boiler restoration. Their comments from the "Description" block of the official Inspection Report includes a comment to the ARRC -

"Conducted unannounced site visit and progress inspection of Steam Locomotive #557 at the Wasilla engine house. The condition of 557 and the quality of repairs appear to be of exceptional quality and the attention to detail is outstanding."

(I don't have a photo of the FRA visit, but here is one from eight years ago this month when the 557 was moved from Anchorage to Wasilla to begin her expected two-year long restoration.)

That is interesting you are making brass brake shoes. Not sure I have ever heard of that before. I hope you leave them unpainted and shine them up for the first run.

Not bronze brake shoes, bronze shoes that are part of the shoes and wedges that provide the sliding surface and some adjustment for wear where the driver journal boxes slide in the frame pedestals so the axles can move up and down over track roughness.

Any day you can get a surprise inspection from any government agency and get a comment like THAT from the inspector is a good day. Congratulations to everyone involved for passing with flying colors!

The latest Engine 557 status report is linked at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/index.html. There are also links to the status reports chronicling our first eight years of the restoration.

The newest Engine 557 status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

When we started disassembly, a number of suspension issues turned up. All the bushings were badly worn, there were broken spring leaves and a broken coil spring, and an oak block was wedged above the front right front journal box to prevent its movement. The front frame extension was bent upward, a bit higher on one side than the other. One result of the frame damage was that the guide for the front truck was worn lopsided. With the boring and sleeving of the guide, this final suspension issue is now corrected.

We are pleased to announce that five donors have pledged $50,000 in matching challenges to kick off the Engine 557 Restoration Company's 2020 fund raising drive. We appreciate your consideration of support of Alaska Railroad #557's return to operation. Go to http://www.557.alaskarails.org/support/donate.html for contact information.

The newest status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

I missed announcing the posting of last month's report. It is at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

In the photo, a main rod and a side rod are being trial fitted to check the bearing fit. The drivers' treads and all journal surfaces were overhauled at Tennessee Valley Railroad several years ago. Volunteer Jeff DeBroeck machined new rod bushings in-house and and oversaw their fitting in the rods. Overhauled journal boxes are being overhauled by a contractor in the Lower 48 states and we expect their shipment back to Alaska this month. After seven years on blocks 557 will be back on her wheels early next year.

Is that a regular box fan blowing on one of the bushings, does that have something to do with making the bushing fit? The short sleeves look like it is summer there when the photo was taken. LOL, I probably wouldn't trust that sawhorse and wood block.

The photo was taken last month. You don't overhaul a steam locomotive in Alaska if you aren't tough!

The saw horses were made for us by a local fabricator and are more than up to the task. Here is a better photo taken when we were cleaning and polishing the rods about eight years ago.

A special December status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

Trial fitting the hand rails and new piping gives the crew a sense of accomplishment!

Great to see another update on this locomotive. You guys are doing a terrific job!

I like the angle of that picture that you posted, as you can really see how everything appears to have been designed for limited vertical clearances. Neat to see.

The latest status report is posted at http://www.557.alaskarails.org/restore/ ... index.html.

The driver journal boxes have been returned following their rebuild by Steam Services of America. Final clean up and painting was done in-house. The drivers will be reinstalled this spring. Transportation on the leg between Anchorage and Fife, Washington, and return was courtesy of Lynden Transport, a major supporter of 557.

Waist.