Steam Locomotive 556

With the completion of the restoration of 557 now on the horizon many are well aware of this lady of the north, and what she represents but what about her sister?

Standing guard in an Anchorage park, 556 spends her days of retirement with a fence wrapped all around her place of honor. For decades 556 has been a part of many a child’s imagination and dreams.

No. 556 is the sister of 557 and is indeed one of the members of the USATC S-160 class built in 1943. She came to Alaska not long after being built avoiding action in the European theatre to battle snow drifts and moose hauling passengers and freight from Seward to Fairbanks.

No. 556 was retired in 1956 and in 1959 she was donated to the city of Anchorage where she’s called home since. Will she steam again? The answer is no, but in reality she has a full head of steam in the dreams of young children.
Here are present day images of 556 for all to see. April 1, 2021

Mike Gerenday