To eliminate steam locos from the shunting movements at the Cadorna terminal, in 1967 came, directly from the TIBB factory, two small 2-axle switchers classified early as De 1 and 2 and then as De 510.1and 2.
Strangely for this kind of small shunters, they were equipped with electric transmission and passed all their operating life between Cadorna station and Scalo Pagano, the yard opposite to the terminal, putting and taking out coaches to enlarge trains accommodation in peak hours.
With the progressive elimination of the so called "carrozze accodate" (coaches on the tail) the need for these two "bugs" was disappearing and, at the beginning of the new century, they were phased out.
De 510.2 in its last days at Novate Depot.
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At the end of the 60s, with the boom of paper being used for everything, the paper mills along the Olona river valley were working hard and were supplied by what remained of Valmorea line.
This line was the last one to be steam operated of the network and, given the good results of the small switchers, FNM passed to builder TIBB an order for a new diesel locomotive with a light axleweight and short wheelbase to be used for freight services on the Valmorea line, for last-miling to the then still numerous private sidings along the lines and for shunting.
The result came as a two trucks loco with a central cab between two low bonnets, each one equipped with a complete engine-generator traction group. The first three units came in 1971, followed in 1975 by two more, with slight differences.
Meanwhile, because of the rising of raw materials and, more, the obsolescence of the factories, these ones quickly closed and in 1975, after the closure of the biggest one, the Cairate plant, the line was stopped so the De 500s passed nearly all their operating life doing reserve, shunting in Cadorna and Saronno stations and making some freight trains, especially on the Saronno to Seregno line were some sidings had narrow curves prohibited to electric locos.
With the opening of the rail freight market, more powerful diesels came in, so this smart class has been slowly sidelined. One unit was donated to Club San Gottardo for the now aborted tourist railway on the upper part of the Valmorea line, two are still waiting a very unlikely new service at Iseo depot and the last two wait dismantling.
De 500.2 arriving at Groane, on the Saronno to Seregno line, with a freight train for the local industries in 2002.
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De 500.3 shunting in Novate Depot in 2003.
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Connecting to what related by «Giovanni il fuochista»
(John the fireman), approximately 25 years ago I came in Saronno station at around lunch time to chat a little with a my friend , a very experienced driver that was in turn with a De 500 for rescue services.
After some minutes he told me: "I'm hungry; if you are not busy I invite you. There is a small, good restaurant in front of the Castellanza station".
"Ok, thanks, but you still have a long time before the end of the turn... "
"Don't worry!" and entered in the station master's office.
"Hey boss, the fuel tank of the loco is empty, I need a trace to the fuelling point of Castellanza!"
As a result I had a good meal between two train rides made especially for me; this is friendship...and hunger!
Ah, for the history, the fuel tank was more than half level!!!
Images by S. Paolini courtesy of Photorail
Ciao
Alcohol is an enemy. Man that escapes from the enemy is a coward!