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Anchorage, AK based Central Environmental Inc. (CEI) has made a $46,500 in kind donation in the form of asbestos abatement services to the Engine #557 Restoration Company, an Alaskan non-profit corporation established to restore to operating condition one of the Alaska Railroads former steam locomotives.

To facilitate the safe restoration of the once proud steam locomotive, CEI’s professional abatement workers spent over a week on this project. CEI removed the asbestos containing boiler insulation, pipe wraps and other miscellaneous asbestos containing materials. With the asbestos removed and the engine cleaned, the hard working volunteers can resume restoration work.

“It’s amazing how much progress the volunteer crews have already accomplished on locomotive #557 in just two months of work. It was important for us to see these dedicated individuals have a safe working environment and keep the momentum going,” says Stuart Jacques, President of CEI. “With the continued support of the community and volunteers, it won’t be long before we see old Engine #557 under steam again.”

Before the Parks Highway or Seward Highway existed, Locomotive #557 and others like it served the state transporting goods and people between the Ports of Seward, Whittier and Anchorage and the interior of Alaska. There is a lot of history with this steam engine and the state of Alaska. Engine #557 was built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps and arrived in Alaska in December, 1944. It was retired in June 1963 and sold to a scrap dealer in Washington in 1964.

For more information regarding Engine #557’s history, background, mechanical specifications, and to continue following this project, visit http://www.alaskarails.org and review the Engine #557 Pages.

Tax-deductible contributions to support the Engine #557 restoration effort may be made to: The Alaska Community Foundation - Engine 557 Restoration Fund; 400 L Street, Suite 100; Anchorage, Alaska 99501 or on-line at http://www.alaskaacf.org

Contact

Central Environmental Inc.
CEI Home
311 North Sitka St.
Anchorage, AK 999501
Tel (907) 561-0125
Fax (907) 561-0178
shane [ at ] cei-alaska.com

Engine 557 Restoration Company
PO Box 875360
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907)341-9232
sewtrain [ at ] mtaonline.netCall
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