The latest status report is at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html

A walkaround video from September 20 is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHkPO_wNc6w

The firebrick lining for the firebox was finished a couple of weeks ago. The refractory lining comes next.

This is the photo I meant to attach. The other one is 3-4 weeks old.

This should have been covered by a castable refractory during today's work call.

Still having difficulty posting without getting logged out.

Test.

The October status report is now posted at https://alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco ... index.html.

With the fire pan draft box installed, the firebox is now ready for a fire and the only exit is through the fire door.

When is the first firing? The best answer we have is *soon*.

On November 8, 2025, a fire was lit in the boiler of Alaska Railroad #557 for the first time in over 50 years following an extensive 13 year overhaul of the locomotive. The old girl exceeded all of our expectations in this test to prepare for the official steam test of the locomotive. It was a clear, balmy 28 degree morning, followed by a foggy afternoon.
To see her in the fog and listen to the overhauled Nathan 5-chime, a gift for Larry Altoff of Pennsylvania, check our Facebook page, “557 Restoration Company.”

https://railfan.com/alaska-railroad-2-8-0-steams-again/
Are there plans for a smoke jack in your engine house?

That and a drop pit are things that need to be considered when we have the overhaul completed.

Trains.com has posted an on-line article on 557 by Bob Lettenberger, associate editor of Trains Magazine. The print version will run in the February issue.

An announcement of the successful burner test and a link to the full article can be found at https://alaskarails.org/ARR-news.html

Scott Maxwell photo. Used with permission.

The newest status report has been posted at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html

Jeff DeBroeck lights the fire in the rebuilt boiler for the first time in over 50 years.

The December status report is now posted at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html.

Monday, December 29, was another day of fierce winds in Wasilla, but we didn't have to worry about a section of our sign which had already been converted to scrap metal when it took flight in winds earlier this month.

The January status report can be found at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html.

Steam fitting. The art of making straight pipe crooked. This steam pipe from the manifold to the generator will be buried in the lagging under the jacket and it took a lot of heating and adjusting to make it miss all of the obstructions. Essentially all of the original piping was well-worn schedule 40. It's all being replaced with schedule 80.

The April status report is now posted at https://alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco ... index.html

A photo of the crossheads being trial fitted to the lower guides. The lower two rows of temporary bolts and nuts have yet to be replaced with copper rivets.

Links to the February and March reports which I neglected to post, as well as the previous 14 years of status reports can be found at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html

Probably wasn't posted because of the issues with the board earlier this month, so I went looking for it: https://alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco ... index.html

PMC - Thanks for posting it. The lack of an announcement was my fault, sometimes I forget to post the new link. The new reports are pretty consistently posted to the web page in the first four or five days of the month.

I've found I'm usually successful with posting things if I use a bit of persistence and make several tries to get logged into the screen to post.

June's status report is now at https://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former- ... index.html

The big news is that we successfully completed our second steam test today, Saturday, July 11. We completed all planned tasks with no surprises or issues. More to come at Facebook "557 Restoration Company" and the next status report. We will also be posting a video on the "557 Restoration Company" Youtube page.

Drone shot courtesy of Donnie Rosie.