Electric locomotive series E.656
5th batch, blue/gray color scheme, "50th anniversary edition"

- Lights and lettering details retained as E656 492 for historical trains
- The product is housed in a commemorative box with a special booklet and a keychain featuring an image of the locomotive front inside.

The E656 492, representative of the fifth series of the E656 class, is one of the "lucky" units that was completely overhauled in the Foligno workshops thanks to the work of the FS Foundation during the year 2022. It was fitted with a bogie replacement and, on this occasion, received the classic pearl gray/oriental blue original livery and the famous "Caiman" on the left side of the cabs. It is currently regularly used at the head of historical trains throughout Italy and is a worthy representative of the E656 group, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The electric locomotives of the E656 group are the evolution of the FS articulated locomotives, which were originally introduced in 1940 with the E636. These locomotives have two half-axles on three two-axle bogies, each with two double motors. The E656 was first delivered to FS in November 1975 by Officine Casaralta in Bologna. The first series consisted of 104 units produced by various manufacturers. Interestingly, it was not the first locomotive that was designated as "E656 001," but rather the "E656 023" that was recorded as the first of its series in history.

The locomotives of the E656 group were painted in pearl gray and oriental blue with a signal red panel at the seating area and headlights. Originally, a different color scheme was planned, inspired by the TEE coaches, but this experiment was not pursued further. The locomotives were eventually delivered in blue/gray and retained this color scheme until the end of their production in 1989.