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| FS Class ALn 668 | |
|---|---|
| Name | ALn 668 |
| Powertype | Diesel |
| Builder | Fiat Ferroviaria; Breda; OM-CGE |
| Builddate | 1954–1981 |
| Totalproduction | 787 |
| Operator | Ferrovie dello Stato; Trenitalia; SEPSA; Ferrovia Circumvesuviana |
| Disposition | Many preserved; some in service; others retired |
FS Class ALn 668 The ALn 668 is a family of Italian diesel multiple units introduced in the 1950s for regional and local services on the Ferrovie dello Stato network. Designed and built by Fiat Ferroviaria, Breda, and OM-CGE, the type became emblematic of postwar Italian regional rail, operating on secondary lines alongside EMUs and steam replacements. The class influenced multiple export orders and localised adaptations, appearing across Italy with varied operators and undergoing numerous modernisations.
Development began in the context of post‑World War II reconstruction with influences from Fiat, Gioacchino Colombo, Otto Kern engineering practices and earlier designs such as the Littorina and Alfa Romeo railcars. The design process involved coordination between Ferrovie dello Stato, Ministero dei Trasporti, and regional authorities in Lazio, Campania, and Sicily. Manufacturing was split among Fiat Ferroviaria works in Savigliano, Breda factories in Milan, and OM/CGE production in Brescia, integrating components from suppliers like Ansaldo and Magneti Marelli. The ALn 668 used lightweight construction techniques influenced by Giovanni Agnelli era industrial policies and postwar Marshall Plan procurement priorities, aiming to replace steam locomotives on branch lines serving towns such as Matera, Potenza, and Benevento.
The units employed Fiat diesel engines paired with mechanical transmissions derived from proven designs used in Italian State Railways shunters and railcars. Key features included two‑axle bogies, hydraulic coupling options, and coachwork with aluminum alloys similar to those used by FIAT Auto in vehicle bodies. Standard braking used systems compatible with Rete Adriatica rolling stock standards and incorporated vacuum and air brakes for interoperability with FS Class E.626 hauled stock. Passenger capacity matched regional needs, with heating systems adapted from Ferrovie Nord Milano suburban stock for routes in Lombardy and ventilation solutions tested on routes crossing the Apennine Mountains.
The production run produced multiple series, reflecting evolving requirements from FS and regional operators. Early series featured mechanical transmissions; later series integrated improved engines and comfort features influenced by Trenitalia specifications and regional orders from Sicilia and Calabria. Specialized subtypes were adapted for narrow‑gauge lines in Sardinia and for shunting duties at depots such as Bologna Centrale and Napoli Centrale. Prototype experiments informed developments in other classes including ALn 772 and contributed to export variants sold to operators in Portugal and Argentina.
ALn 668 units entered service on secondary routes previously served by FS Class 740 steam locomotives and replaced ageing railcars on services connecting cities like Venice, Trieste, Turin, and Genoa. Deployment patterns reflected regional migration trends, tourism flows to Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, and industrial freight shuttles to ports such as Livorno and Genoa Port. Their operational role evolved alongside the electrification programmes of FS and the introduction of Pendolino tilting trains on main lines. Incidents and accidents involving ALn 668 units were investigated by authorities including Polizia Ferroviaria and regulatory reviews prompted safety upgrades in signalling coordination with RFI control centres.
Primary operator was Ferrovie dello Stato, later reorganised as Trenitalia and regional entities following devolution policies in Italy. Secondary operators included SEPSA on Neapolitan routes, Ferrovia Circumvesuviana branches, and private regional companies in Puglia and Umbria. Export or leased examples served operators in Spain, Portugal, and portions of North Africa under contracts with companies linked to Italo‑Mediterranean trade consortia. Allocation lists changed over decades, with depots in Ancona, Palermo, Bari, and Cagliari among regular stabling points.
Throughout their service lives, many units underwent mid‑life overhauls overseen by workshops at Foligno, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and Napoli San Lorenzo. Modifications included engine replacements with modern Fiat or IVECO diesel units, installation of improved seating per standards from Ministero dei Trasporti accessibility guidelines, retrofitting of air conditioning influenced by Mediterranean summer service needs, and upgraded signalling interfaces to comply with ERTMS pilot schemes on regional corridors. Refurbishments by private firms like Ansaldo Breda and Hitachi Rail included corrosion treatments and interior reconfigurations for commuter service.
Numerous examples have been preserved by heritage groups such as Fondazione FS Italiane, Museo Nazionale Ferroviario di Pietrarsa, and local railway societies in Piemonte and Campania. Preserved units appear in heritage events alongside steam locomotives like FS Class 685 and electric locomotives such as FS Class E.444, and feature in exhibitions at institutions including La Triennale di Milano and regional museums in Sicily. The ALn 668 has been depicted in photographic collections by Roberto Brenna and in railway literature published by TuttoTreno and I Treni magazines, contributing to its status as an icon of postwar Italian rail transport and influencing model reproductions produced by firms like Rivarossi and Lima.
Category:Diesel multiple units of Italy