Engine 557, 10 years of restoration milestone. Locomotive and Tender finally united! 

The were very much designed that way to be built quickly without frills for export to Africa and Europe during WWII. The export models were even more stripped down with no electric lighting, no air operated fire door, and no power reverse. Most of those that came to Alaska were the "deluxe" model with those accessories fitted by Baldwin. During the war they were sometimes referred to as "Gypsy Rose Lee" locomotives after the famous stripper. We sometimes refer to them as the Liberty Ship of steam locomotives.

@@engine557 I think the Texas State Railroad has/had one of these too. Gorgeous resto guys! Where are ya'll based?

@@Einwetok Engine 557 Restoration Company is based in Wasilla, Alaska.

1702 Is Also An S160 Locomotive

Thank You

We have a couple of photos of the drivers on the TVRM wheel lathe. The number is also written on the wall there along with the numbers of other locomotive they have turned.

That may be a bit optimistic. We are hoping for steam tests the end of next year.

gracias

We too will be overjoyed when this restoration is complete, and thank you for the recommendation.

@@engine557 You are welcome 😊☺😘🙂 we are glad we could help.

That would be #557’s whistle.

The whistle sounded strange on air at the pressure used in the video. Check out the other short video when we first tested it. It sounds much better.

I guess that makes sense. Compressed air has a different sound then on steam, so it would sound much different.

We are working hard towards having it in operation in 2025. Fingers crossed!

@@engine557 Awesome!

557 is a USATC S-160.

Same as TVRM 610? But still closer to an original design?

@@CrkdFngrGngrBndt Not really too acquainted with the 610, However, I believe 610 is a later design somewhat related to the true S-160's. Wikipedia says ".....technically not an S-160 but classified as a type A....."

Your probably think of the WP&YR in skagway, they were and still are 3ft

@@CrkdFngrGngrBndt TVRM 610 is an S160A, an improved S160 and the only one built and the last steam locomotive built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton. It was built for the US Army Transportation Corps (USATC) for use during the Korean War, but due to railroads around the world dieselizing, it was the only one built. It was in fact built after Chesapeake & Ohio 1309 at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which was the last steam locomotive built for domestic use by Baldwin Locomotive Works.

I mean we kinda do but so far the only version that’s available is the one in the USATC livery

Standard Gauge

@@engine557 thanks for the reply 👍

All USATC locomotives (excluding the s118 narrow gauge light mikado) were built to standard gauge. Some USATC diesels were built with variable gauge trucks, meaning that they could work on anything from 3 foot gauge to 5 foot 6 inch gauge.

It was on compressed air. We do not (yet) have steam available.

The hope is to run it in excursion service on the Alaska Railroad. A lot of details to be worked out before that can come true!

@@terrydouglas4022 Thanks for the info!

It's a 5 chime Nathan

We hope to be in a position to do steam testing in 2024.

Yes it is.

557 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type. She was built as part of the US Army Transportion Corps "S-160" Class, during WW-2.

Apologies for the delayed reply. Yes, we intended to get 557 under steam and running on the mainline.

We are diligently working towards getting 557's boiler to the Hydro test stage, which would be required to get FRA approval. Once that is completed, we could consider the boiler operable.