Steam & Excursion > Restoration of Alaska RR 557

Restoration of Alaska Railroad 557, a 2-8-0, is entering what Railfan & Railroad calls the "Home Stretch."  A hydrostatic test is scheduled with the Federal Railroad Administration in May.  Installation of Positive Train Control, as required for operation on the Alaska Railroad will be another milestone.  If all goes as planned, the 557 could be running in early 2025.  A fund-raising private car excursion on the Aurora is scheduled for June 21. 

More information about the 557, the S160 Consolidations, and the excursion can be found in the following Railfan & Railroad article:

https://railfan.com/alaska-railroad-2-8-0-restoration-enters-home-stretch



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/24 21:31 by RuleG.

Great to hear!

I've been looking forward to this one running for a long time. I remember seeing it in Moses Lake when it was looked at(I don't know how seriously) as a candidate for a proposed excursion operation on the BN Goldendale Branch before its tragic demise. I thought it was the most unattractive steam engine I could imagine. Later on, as my knowledge of history widened, the S-160s are still awkward and ugly, but the history behind them is awesome. When it was announced this one was "almost brand new" and headed back to Alaska "to be operational in no time" I was thrilled. Since then, it has been very interesting watching this group's meticulous progress. It's great to hear they're almost at the finish line.

Posted from Android

I was asked years ago by a group looking for a medium size/mainline capable locomotive if I could have a look at an NP Pacific in a park, and the 557 in Moses Lake since I live "nearby", and I came to the same conclusion on 557. I'm no Wes Camp by any means, but I'd seen locomotives in regular operation in what I considered far worse condition and even spouted off something to the affect of  "if you could get the appliances to work you could probably get it to move under its own power if you absolutely had to", an opinion further embellished on by a guy from Wyoming, but I like to leave that part out...this was in the days before the "no bolt left unturned" level of restoration (which I am now after 40 additional years of locomotives on outside display a fan of) but I have to say I'm both surprised and humbled by the findings of this great group in Alaska, they've done a beautiful job!

Cheers, Dave

That group of 2-8-0's have certainly proved durable. One, #607, is still at the Military Transportation Museum at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in VA. Here's 607 on an excursion on what was then  Fort Eustis in 1970.

B&O Bill

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BAB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A-1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've been looking forward to this one running
> for
> > a long time. I remember seeing it in Moses Lake
> > when it was looked at(I don't know how
> seriously)
> > as a candidate for a proposed excursion
> operation
> > on the BN Goldendale Branch before its tragic
> > demise. I thought it was the most unattractive
> > steam engine I could imagine. Later on, as my
> > knowledge of history widened, the S-160s are
> still
> > awkward and ugly, but the history behind them
> is
> > awesome. When it was announced this one was
> > "almost brand new" and headed back to Alaska
> "to
> > be operational in no time" I was thrilled.
> Since
> > then, it has been very interesting watching
> this
> > group's meticulous progress. It's great to hear
> > they're almost at the finish line.
> >
> > Posted from Android
> I guess if its not to your liking in looks that's
> the way it is. Why run down something because in
> your esyes its an ugly step child?  Look at this
> for what it was an engine with a history the owner
> who I met and often visited with was a true gem to
> be around. His statement to me and others was
> Alaska wants the engine but yet I saved it from
> the scrap line so as long as I am alive, Monty
> Home was the fellows name just came to be but
> don't know correct spelling, Alaska will never get
> there hands on it. He did operate it a few times
> on the rails around Moses Lake. I don't know if it
> pulled the coach Abraham Lincoln or not when the
> owner used it on his I think wedding trip. So
> that's why I didn't care for your statement Monty
> would not have enjoyed it.

More babbling non-sense from the master babbler.

BAB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A-1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've been looking forward to this one running
> for
> > a long time. I remember seeing it in Moses Lake
> > when it was looked at(I don't know how
> seriously)
> > as a candidate for a proposed excursion
> operation
> > on the BN Goldendale Branch before its tragic
> > demise. I thought it was the most unattractive
> > steam engine I could imagine. Later on, as my
> > knowledge of history widened, the S-160s are
> still
> > awkward and ugly, but the history behind them
> is
> > awesome. When it was announced this one was
> > "almost brand new" and headed back to Alaska
> "to
> > be operational in no time" I was thrilled.
> Since
> > then, it has been very interesting watching
> this
> > group's meticulous progress. It's great to hear
> > they're almost at the finish line.
> >
> > Posted from Android
> I guess if its not to your liking in looks that's
> the way it is. Why run down something because in
> your esyes its an ugly step child?  Look at this
> for what it was an engine with a history the owner
> who I met and often visited with was a true gem to
> be around. His statement to me and others was
> Alaska wants the engine but yet I saved it from
> the scrap line so as long as I am alive, Monty
> Home was the fellows name just came to be but
> don't know correct spelling, Alaska will never get
> there hands on it. He did operate it a few times
> on the rails around Moses Lake. I don't know if it
> pulled the coach Abraham Lincoln or not when the
> owner used it on his I think wedding trip. So
> that's why I didn't care for your statement Monty
> would not have enjoyed it.


WHAT????