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Italy still had steam activity in 1974/75 on secondary routes. One of the most interesting was a branch off the Brenner Pass main line which started at Fortezza and terminated at San Candido, though the line used to go on into current day Austria when the area was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Stations en route displayed their names in German as well as Italian. In the winter months, a skiers' special ran at weekends from Germany and required three steam locos – two at the front and one banking – to take it along the steeply graded branch. But when I was there on a snow covered Saturday, 8 February 1975, two class 341 diesels were the motive power. They had recently taken over the daily duties, which had been all steam on my visit in November 1974. At least with the diesels otherwise engaged, it meant the regular loco-hauled passenger and freight reverted to steam haulage.
FS 2-8-0 740.161 was waiting at Fortezza station with the 09.32 passenger service to San Candido, whose departure was delayed until 10.15. The train was heavier than normal as it included three through carriages which started in Rome the previous evening, two were blue liveried Wagon-Lits. I fancied a steam ride in a Wagon-Lit, so sat down in a vacant compartment – until the ticket collector came along and threw me out for not paying a supplement!
Further up the line, at Brunico, was Franco-Crosti-boilered 2-8-0 741.320, which had worked the local freight. Here it coupled on the front of 740.161 and we left doubleheaded for the rest of the journey to San Candido, getting in at 12.50.
Eighty class 741 locos were rebuilds with Franco- Crosti boilers from class 740 in the period 1958 - 1960, following one done in 1955. There was also a class 743 Crosti 2-8-0, 93 examples, again rebuilds of conventional 2-8-0s. But then the boiler was designed in Italy!
The Ski Special, with two diesels heading nine carriages arrived at 13.45.
With snow capped peaks as a backdrop, the doubleheader waits while the crews converse with the Stationmaster.
Following arrival at San Candido, the Crosti returned to Brunico to resume its freight duty.
740.161 shunts its stock at San Candido - note the two blue liveried Wagons-Lit carriages. The diesel was one of the two which arrived on the ski special.
On a visit in 1974, I took this picture of the regular service passenger with Crosti boiler 2-8-0 741 142. I think Italy was unique in using Franco-Crosti boiler locos on passenger trains, certainly by this date. The view shows the Tyrolean style station buildings and dual language names.
Above. Another Crosti 741.107 was on the daily freight, passed at a wayside station.
Below, 741 107 and 741 142 receiving attention between trains at San Candido.
The driver of a diesel unit on a service from San Candido watches as Crosti 741.388 roars past on an empty
stock working with a conventional 2-8-0 pushing at the rear - made quite a sight and sound!
A map of the line can be found here -
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