5057 Fundraising Challenge: 1 = 3!

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3/26 UPDATE: We have raised $650 so far this month. Another $350 is needed by Saturday, March 31 to get the full match of the challenge.

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No, we aren't really bad at math.  We have a fundraising challenge from an anonymous donor. The donor will match up to $1,000 dollars between now and March 31, and their employer will match their donation. For a limited time, each $1 you donate will turn into $3 for the 5057 Project.

Donate now to help us 'paint it black'. And orange too!

About that big orange stripe...

If you are wondering why we talk about painting the 5057 black with a big orange stripe, take a look at this excerpt from the General Electric painting diagram for the Milwaukee Road four-axle locomotives (U25B, U28B and U30B).  As you can see, it describes the body color as black and refers to the orange as a stripe.

Click to enlarge

We were hoping the paint codes shown on the diagram would help us match the original color, but we haven't had any luck with that.  The paint codes are evidently obsolete.

If you would like to see the whole painting diagram you can view it on our research website here or click the image below.

Click to view the PDF of the paint diagram

Paint it black!

The 5057 Project has been quiet this year. Our initial plan when we took the locomotive to the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad (POVA) shop in Usk, WA was to have them work on the locomotive between other jobs. Fortunately for the folks at POVA, they’ve been extremely busy! The 5057 has only been in the shop once since it arrived.

We recently talked to our friends at POVA and they told us they’d like to bring the 5057 into their shop and do all the cosmetic restoration work at once, including the painting. They anticipate having an opening in their schedule next spring. We have the funds on hand to finish all the work to prepare the locomotive for painting, but we need to raise about $20,000 to cover the actual paint work. This means we need to kick our fundraising into high gear.  Our goal is to have the funds raised by the end of March 2018.  

Click the image to donate

We invite you to sponsor the painting of the 5057. Dividing the cost of the work to be done by the approximately 45 gallons of paint and primer needed, a $505.70 donation will cover a gallon of paint.  A $100 donation will cover about a quart. And a $50.57 donation will cover about a pint. No, we aren’t paying $500 a gallon for paint! The paint we’ll be using is expensive, but the $500 includes all the labor and other materials needed for a high quality paint job.

Click the image to donate

Please consider making a donation today at any level to help cover part of this work.

Finally in the shop!

After a long wait, the 5057 finally went into the shop at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad (POVA) shop in Usk, WA.  The people at POVA have sent us some photos of the work they have been doing and we are sharing them with you here.

The cab of the locomotive is in particularly bad shape relative to the rest of it.  Work has started there. Here you can see some of the rust that is being addressed.

The inner and outer panels on both the fireman and engineer sides of the cab are being replaced with new steel.  The photos below show how extensive this work is on the fireman's side of the cab. The bracing between panels is being replaced also, along with the front of the cab on the engineer's side.

The cab window frames are rotted out and we are waiting for an estimate for the cost to fabricate new ones.  All the window glass will be replaced because it is very brittle.  Here you can see the doors after they were removed.

There was a lot of rust in the steel supporting the cab floor.  The rusted metal there was cut out and the floor was re-braced.  New plywood was cut to replace the floor.  The photos below show the new floor.

  

The metal corrosion was more extensive than what was expected when the team at POVA gave us a cost estimate for the cosmetic repair work.  It will cost more than the $15,000 we were planning, but we do not know how much more yet.

The 5057 has been pulled out of the shop so the POVA staff can work on other projects.  When it goes back in next time, we plan to continue work on the cab and also replace the rear pilot plate.  We had to borrow a rear pilot plate from the Feather River Rail Society to move the 5057 from Portola, CA.  We look forward to sending it back to them and picking up the spare traction motor we purchased from them with the 5057.

Now is a great time to contribute to the 5057 Project!  We will need a bit more money to pay for this phase of the project, plus we have the painting and the move to South Cle Elum in the future.  The faster we raise funds, the sooner we can bring the 5057 home for people to enjoy.  Please make a contribution today if you can. 

Milwaukee Road U25B locomotives - a class act

The U25B locomotives of the Milwaukee Road, like other locomotive models on the roster, were assigned an alphanumeric classification by the railroad.  The U25Bs were class 25G-RS.  The '25' represented 2500 horsepower, the 'G' represented General Electric, and the 'RS' represented road switcher.

The Milwaukee Road typically stenciled the classification of the locomotive on the cab. You can see part of the classification stencil on the 5057 below.

We plan to trace the stencil so we can recreate it when the 5057 is painted.  The remaining part of the classification, the "RS" appeared to be missing.  However, when we visited the 5057 last fall at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad shop in Usk, WA we noticed it could be faintly seen under a coat of paint.

5057 update - the restoration plan

Last month we visited the 5057 at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad (POVA) shop in Usk, WA.

Not much has happened since the 5057 arrived there late last year.  Progress has been slow because the shop at POVA has been busy with work for clients that are in a bigger rush than us. In June some of the parts we borrowed from the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA were removed and returned.  We are still need to return the rear pilot plate we borrowed from them and are seeking dimensions for the replacement from the 5056 at Illinois Railway Museum.  

Wayne Monger poses by the 5057 in June 2015 while picking up parts to be returned
to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum (photo courtesy of Wayne Monger) 

While we were at POVA, we talked to them about the work we want to do before we repaint the 5057. Based on our conversation, the first task we tackle will be restoring the cab.  This is probably the most extensive portion of the work.  Typical of early GE ‘U-boat’ locomotives, the cab has a lot of corrosion.  In some places, the steel will need to be completely replaced.  We will be matching the existing material as much as possible as we replace things.  New and repaired metal will be primed to protect it until we are ready to paint.  While this will be a lot of work, it is something that can be accomplished a little bit at a time, with the 5057 going in and out of the shop as their schedule permits.

You can see some of the sheet metal corrosion
on the cab that needs to be addressed before the 5057 is painted.

After the cab is finished, we will work on the hood.  Most of the hood doors need to be straightened and many of the latches need to be replaced.  We have a good supply of replacement latches that were acquired from GE by the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and came to us with the 5057.  Another thing we plan to do is replace the missing access door on the cabinet under the walkway at the rear of the locomotive.  This cabinet is where a flange lubricator system was installed after the 5057 was retired by the Milwaukee Road. The flange lubricator will be removed.  We also plan to make some modifications to deter vandals and thieves from damaging the locomotive while it is on display.

This is the flange lubricator that will be removed.  The missing door will be replaced.

One door with a latch, another without a latch.

Overall, we expect the preparation work before painting to cost about $15,000.  The painting itself will be about $20,000.  Right now, we have most but not all of the funds need to complete the preparation work. Please make a donation today to help us get the 5057 looking good again.

5057 is 50!

The 5057 is fifty years old this month!

It entered service for the Milwaukee Road on July 14, 1965 as locomotive number 388.  By the end of the month, it was pulling freight across the system.  The first documented trip in Washington we have identified occurred on July 31, about two weeks after it entered service.

According to this train sheet, the 388 passed Maple Valley, WA at 12:23 a.m. pulling 2,915 tons (25 loads and 58 empty cars) with three other U25B locomotives.  It then passed Black River at 12:50 a.m. on the way to Tacoma. It would have passed through Cle Elum sometime on July 30.

Here is an August 1965 view of the 388 going through Cle Elum, one of the earliest pictures of the locomotive.  Right behind the power, all GE U25B locomotives like the 388, the dynamometer car is collecting data on the performance of these new additions to the fleet.

In honor of the 5057's birthday, consider making a birthday gift donation to the 5057 Project!

Something borrowed, something new...

We are starting to send back parts we borrowed from the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in order to move the 5057 to the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad shop in Usk, WA.

This week, composite brake shoes and a P2-A brake application valve are being removed from the 5057 and returned.

The P2-A brake application valve

Next, we need to fabricate a replacement for the missing rear pilot plate.  We used one from Western Pacific 501, an EMC SW1, to get the 5057 back to Washington.  It fit pretty well, but we are contacting the Illinois Railway Museum to request the dimensions of the rear pilot plate on the 5056 so we can duplicate it.  The 5056 is the other surviving Milwaukee Road U25B. 

You can see the gap under the coupler where the rear pilot plate should be.

Since the restoration work on the 5057 and 5056 will face many similar challenges, we hope to build a good working relationship with the Illinois Railway Museum. 

In the meantime, we are still working with staff at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad to develop a plan for the restoration work on the 5057.  Stay tuned!

Thirty-five years ago - March 1980

Thirty-five years ago this month, the 5057 left Washington as the Milwaukee Road packed up and abandoned the state.

At the time no one probably would have guessed that it would ever come back, let alone be the focus of a campaign to cosmetically restore it and display it at Cle Elum.  Who knew then that it would be one of the few survivors and someday be tasked with introducing future generations to the fascinating, bittersweet history of the Milwaukee Road?  Yet there it sits today in Usk, WA, on the former Milwaukee Road branch to Metaline Falls, thanks to the efforts of many railfans, former Milwaukee Road employees, and other friends.

It has come far, but still has a long way to go before it finally returns to Cle Elum.  Together, the Friends of the 5057 will eventually bring it home.

The Burlington Northern dispatcher at Maple Valley, WA documented the last trip of the 5057 between Black River, WA and Maple Valley, WA on March 13, 1980.

The train with the 5057 finally arrived in Cle Elum on March 14, 1980 after taking 12 hours to make the 55-mile trip from Cedar Falls.

5057 in the news

We have received some good publicity about the movement of the 5057 back to Washington.

The North Kittitas County Tribune newspaper (Cle Elum) published an article in December illustrated with a photo by Rob Jacox. The Daily Record newspaper in Ellensburg also published an article in January. You can read the Daily Record article here.

More recently, Railfan and Railroad published a news item about the move in the February issue of the magazine, with a photo by Ted Curphey of it heading to Usk on the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad. 

We are working with the folks at POVA to plan the restoration work and hope to have some news to report soon.  Stay tuned!

An end of a journey and the beginning of a new phase

The 5057 is now at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad shop in Usk, WA!

Many contributed to get the locomotive there from Portola,CA and we are very thankful for their participation.

• The volunteers at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum showed that the spirit of the "Willing People" is very much alive today.  They made every effort to help us launch this project successfully, including loaning us parts and contributing time that could have otherwise been focused on their own projects.

• BNSF not only donated the transportation costs for their part of the movement, but the people there were also very responsive and helpful throughout the process.

• And of course, the many Friends of the 5057 who have contributed their time and money to get the project to this point. 

With this phase of the project complete, we are moving on to the next.  Over the coming weeks, we will be working with the staff at the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad to scope out the work that will be done to cosmetically restore the 5057.  We'll be looking for ways to break the work up into smaller sub-projects so we can make progress as funds are raised. 

We have enough funds on hand to make a good start on the work that needs to get done for the cosmetic restoration, but we will need more funds to finish this phase of the project.  Make a contribution today to propel the restoration of the 5057 forward!

5057 to Washington - 12/15/2014 update

The journey to the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad shop in Usk, WA is almost complete!  BNSF delivered  the 5057 to the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad in Sandpoint, ID last night at 9:36 p.m.  Yes it left Washington, but we expect it back very soon!

5057 to Washington - 12/11/2014 update

The 5057 left Pasco last night and was in Spokane this morning.  It may be leaving Spokane tonight on the Sandpoint local, for delivery to the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad in Sandpoint.

UPDATE: We've heard that it is scheduled to leave Spokane on the 14th at about 4 p.m.  In that case, it should be in Sandpoint on Monday.

Richard Olson was able to take some photos of the 5057 while it was in Pasco and shared them with us.  You can see them below.

5057 to Washington - 12/9/2014 update

The 5057 is back in Washington!   It crossed the Columbia River and arrived at Wishram, WA last night, probably very early this morning.  A new crew will take the train it is on to Pasco, WA.

5057 to Washington - 12/8/2014 update - Part 2

The 5057 is continuing northward.  It was seen in Bend, OR tonight at 6 p.m.  Tomorrow, it could make it to Pasco, WA. 

Thank you to Rob Jacox, Aaron Jacox, and Warren Root for venturing out to greet the 5057 at Bend. And thank you to Rob for letting us share the photo below with everyone.

POVA (MILW) 5057 at Bend, OR.  Rob Jacox photo, used with permission.

5057 to Washington - 12/8/2014 update

We have received a report that the 5057 arrived in Klamath Falls, OR at 4:30 a.m. this morning.  A crew has been called for 7:00 a.m. to take the train north from there, but that could change.

Here is a photo taken yesterday by Wayne Monger that shows the 5057 waiting in Oroville, CA.

5057 to Washington - 12/7/2014 update

Well, the plans have changed once again.  The 5057 is evidently moving now!

We received a report last night that the 5057 has been put on a train at Riverbank, CA and moved to a siding at Duffy, 15 miles north of Riverbank.  At last report, a crew was on the train but it had not departed yet.  It is likely heading north now. 

The weather should be decent today, so we hope people are able to get out and take photos and/or video of the 5057 as it heads north.

UPDATE:  The 5057 sat at Oroville, CA all day because the Union Pacific was doing track work.  It is on the move again this evening.

5057 to Washington - 12/6/2014 update

The train that was to take the 5057 from Riverbank, CA to Pasco,WA last night did not operate.  We understand that it is now due to leave tonight.

UPDATE: The 5057 is now scheduled to leave Riverbank, CA at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9.

Thank you BNSF!

BNSF Railway is donating their part of the transportation cost of moving the 5057 from California to Washington!  

BNSF is our only 'hometown' railroad today, still operating trains through the Cle Elum area on their line over Stampede Pass.  Between this donation and matching funds for employee donations, BNSF is making a significant investment in the 5057 Project.  Their latest donation gives a big boost to upcoming the restoration phase of the project by allowing us to reallocate funds budgeted for moving the locomotive to the restoration work.

We are very pleased to have BNSF as a Friend of the 5057!

5057 to Washington - 12/5/2014 update

Yesterday, the 5057 was moved south to the BNSF yard in Riverbank, CA.  It will be picked up by a northbound train there.  The 5057 is finally ready to come north!  It is planned to depart today on a train bound for Pasco, WA.