Long-time park strip resident ARR locomotive #556 has had her moments of excitement.

On January 1, 1950, she rolled over onto her side near Seward. Wreck photos and the accident report are from the Alaska Railroad records that were formerly in the National Archives.

On January 15, 1951, she was in a fire that destroyed the car repair shop and coach shed. The headline in the Anchorage Daily Times read, "$5,000,000 Fire Hits ARR." In the fire was 556 and another locomotive, both were initially reported to be destroyed in the fire. However, 556 was repaired and returned to service but with a different tender, probably from the other locomotive that was in the fire. That's the tender that she still has today. 1945 and 1955 photos show her very early and the circa 1951 tender swap. It also shows the larger air compressor that was fitted onto the front deck of all of the 550 class locomotives shortly after they were received. - Dick Morris