by Benny
It's Halloween time but I'm not a ghost. Sorry for the lam, I was busier than normal.
With the beginning of XX century and the development of road vehicles, railroads were thinking about the use of endothermic engines to obtain savings on lightly patronized services because steam powered railcars were yet on use but boiler, engine and stocks were too much bulky and a good lot of time was wasted in preparing and looking after this kind of power.
After primordial experiences with vehicles derived from the road ones, it appeared that the idea of a endothermic propelled coach was interesting but needed to have specific railroad features so each country and each builder developed its proper "philosophy"; it seems me that the evolution of FS non-electric railcars has been really interesting on the technical and stylistic sides so I will try to relate about it. Hope you will be pleased.
To help comprehension, this is the explanation of FS numbering. Private companies can use different codes.
Each unit is identified by an eight, nine or ten digits code: LLl (N)NN.(N)NNN
the first two are generally AL, that mean Automotrice Leggera (light railcar);
the third one (lower case) indicates the kind of fuel so it can be
b (benzina/gasoline)
n (nafta/diesel)
g (gas)
v (vapore/steam)
So, e.g., an ALb is a railcar powered by gasoline engine(s).
Sometimes the first three digits are ATR, that mean Auto Treno Rapido (rapid auto train); these are used for articulated railcars.
The second group of digits indicates the number of seats and is used as class number. If the first digit of this group is repeated, it means that the class is equipped with multiple control.
Examples:
ALb 48 is a 48 seats gasoline powered unit.
ALn 772 is a 72 seats diesel powered unit that can be controlled from a sister car.
In case of ATR, this group of digits only indicates the class, without regard for the seats.
The last group of digits indicates the builder (1=Fiat, 2=Breda, 3=OM, 4=Ansaldo, 5=others), possible different models with the same class number and the progressive number.
Examples:
ALn 556.2244 is a Breda built diesel unit with 56 seats and remote control and is completely different from ALn 556.1277 that is a Fiat built diesel unit equally with 56 seats and (different) remote control but of another model.
ALn 668.1703, a diesel powered 68 seats Fiat unit, is of the same class of ALn 668.1016 but of a different series.
In the case of ATR instead, the last block of digits only gives series and progressive number.
Some classes of railcars had driving trailers; their numbering followed the same concept apart the first digits that are Ln. Originally classified as RLn (Rimorchio Leggero per automotrice a nafta or light trailer for diesel railcar) very quickly the R has been abolished to avoid confusion with narrow gauge stock that was prefixed R too.
Example:
Ln 664.3512 is a OM built driving trailer for ALn 773 railcars.
Ok, for today it's all; at short (hoping) time some more specific note and, as usual, if you have queries or doubts don't hesitate: Uncle Benny will try to answer.
Ciao
With the beginning of XX century and the development of road vehicles, railroads were thinking about the use of endothermic engines to obtain savings on lightly patronized services because steam powered railcars were yet on use but boiler, engine and stocks were too much bulky and a good lot of time was wasted in preparing and looking after this kind of power.
After primordial experiences with vehicles derived from the road ones, it appeared that the idea of a endothermic propelled coach was interesting but needed to have specific railroad features so each country and each builder developed its proper "philosophy"; it seems me that the evolution of FS non-electric railcars has been really interesting on the technical and stylistic sides so I will try to relate about it. Hope you will be pleased.
To help comprehension, this is the explanation of FS numbering. Private companies can use different codes.
Each unit is identified by an eight, nine or ten digits code: LLl (N)NN.(N)NNN
the first two are generally AL, that mean Automotrice Leggera (light railcar);
the third one (lower case) indicates the kind of fuel so it can be
b (benzina/gasoline)
n (nafta/diesel)
g (gas)
v (vapore/steam)
So, e.g., an ALb is a railcar powered by gasoline engine(s).
Sometimes the first three digits are ATR, that mean Auto Treno Rapido (rapid auto train); these are used for articulated railcars.
The second group of digits indicates the number of seats and is used as class number. If the first digit of this group is repeated, it means that the class is equipped with multiple control.
Examples:
ALb 48 is a 48 seats gasoline powered unit.
ALn 772 is a 72 seats diesel powered unit that can be controlled from a sister car.
In case of ATR, this group of digits only indicates the class, without regard for the seats.
The last group of digits indicates the builder (1=Fiat, 2=Breda, 3=OM, 4=Ansaldo, 5=others), possible different models with the same class number and the progressive number.
Examples:
ALn 556.2244 is a Breda built diesel unit with 56 seats and remote control and is completely different from ALn 556.1277 that is a Fiat built diesel unit equally with 56 seats and (different) remote control but of another model.
ALn 668.1703, a diesel powered 68 seats Fiat unit, is of the same class of ALn 668.1016 but of a different series.
In the case of ATR instead, the last block of digits only gives series and progressive number.
Some classes of railcars had driving trailers; their numbering followed the same concept apart the first digits that are Ln. Originally classified as RLn (Rimorchio Leggero per automotrice a nafta or light trailer for diesel railcar) very quickly the R has been abolished to avoid confusion with narrow gauge stock that was prefixed R too.
Example:
Ln 664.3512 is a OM built driving trailer for ALn 773 railcars.
Ok, for today it's all; at short (hoping) time some more specific note and, as usual, if you have queries or doubts don't hesitate: Uncle Benny will try to answer.
Ciao
Alcohol is an enemy. Man that escapes from the enemy is a coward!