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 Posted - April 30 2010 : 1:04:08 PM
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This past Sunday I topped off my semester here in Italy by catching an Italian steam locomotive in action on a scenic line from Siena! To my surprise it also happened to be FS 741.120, a Franco-Crosti boiler type, giving it a space-age look with its rear side exhaust.
/tyco/forum/uploaded/architrains/IMG_7421edit.jpg
It took quite a bit of train schedule juggling to see it, and I ended up missing dinner at the study center and suffering through an extremely tired ham sandwich at the junction station in Chiusi, but it was worth it.
/tyco/forum/uploaded/architrains/IMG_7423edit.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/architrains/IMG_7422edit.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/architrains/IMG_7432edit.jpg
I wasn't expecting it to stop at the tiny junction station of Asciano I was waiting at, but it appeared some people had missed it leaving the festival it had stopped at for the afternoon in the Val d'Orcia, and came careening in on a big tour bus to meet it, along with one of the conductors. To signal the driver to leave, the conductor held out his hat and yelled "Heeeeeyy, MAESTRO!" To which Maestro responded with two sharp whistle blasts and opening the throttle. Quite a memorable scene.
It makes me want one of the Rivarossi versions:
http://www.rivarossi-memory.it/Riva_Loco_Italiane/Loco_Italiane_Immagini/FS%20Vapo%201-4-0%20Gr741-155.jpg
I got some video too, which would have been better quality at points had my hand not been trembling with excitement!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io2ybG4qfZY
Nothing but downhill from there as it's work work work getting our design projects done before our open house show on Sunday. Not all bad, though: my professor wants me to set up my Lima train to run near my analysis drawings of Italian train stations! 
--Rio Grande--Thru the Rockies
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 Posted - April 30 2010 : 2:38:30 PM
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Thanks for posting this, Architrains. I was reading about the Franco-Crosti and other and other boiler variations a while back, but I didn't know there was an example preserved. It's really cool to see one in operation. Is it in regular excursion service?
Good luck tracking down the Rivarossi version.
http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/francocrosti/francocrosti.htm
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - April 30 2010 : 5:11:28 PM
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heh looks odd without the smokestack in front 
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Posted - April 30 2010 : 5:57:18 PM
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As far as I can tell, it's in semi-regular service on the Ferrovia Val d'Orcia along with a few other steam locomotives and a diesel railcar that are privately owned by a regional preservation society. They run steam trains from Siena on the FVO for festivals in the small towns south along the line, and for holiday weekends, so generally around twice a month during the summer. I've also seen a picture on wikipedia of this particular engine in Florence's Santa Maria Novella station, so I assume they run on the main lines every now and then, too.
I got really lucky, as Italy hasn't preserved many steam locos since they're just "modern" stuff by their time scale 
--Rio Grande--Thru the Rockies
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