The freight trains of FNM
Since railway privatization has started even here in Italy, just a few of the various societies born to run freight services on RFI network have really beginned their trains. Among these there are the FNM, which istituted some freight runs from the container terminal in Melzo to the belgian harbor in Zeebrugge passing through the simplon tunnel. After a long period of testing its locos under the Cesifer to obtain the permit to circulate on RFI metals, the FNM now use only E.630 Skoda locos - former CSD - to operate these newborn Cargo division trains. Of the 9 units came on Nord rails, at least two are commonly used on Cargo timetables while other locos are booked on push-pull trains on FNM commuter network. On march, this year, the E.630.04 was on a test run in Firenze, as it was the diesel D.343.1034 formerly SNFT and now fully under FNM label, after the merger of the two societies. By then the Iseo's depot has become the official diesel repair shop for all FNM group, while Novate Milanese's one it's the same for electrics. By now the service freight it's organized on just a couple of trains per day from Melzo to Domodossola, with the every day departure from Melzo yard fixed at 7.42 p.m.. In the Melzo yard it's always assigned a diesel loco DE.145 (former SNFT) to be used on shunt movements between the terminal link and the shunting east track in the Melzo yard. The re-fuelling of this loco is made with tank trucks, in a service yard tasting of temporariety. The Melzo yard it's the nearest to the terminal where wagons have to be picked up from the Merzario container facility, but tracks lay out it's no more responding to modern necessities of rationality; the FNM are infact looking for new yards to expand their business but for now they are still obstacled by "other competitors"... Thinking big for the future, new services by FNM are in progress pointing on Rho's yard and local oil refineries and more with the freight yard in Novara Boschetto. By this mean FNM made serious investments travelling all around Europe in search of new locos: diesel units for yard use or not electrified lines and electric 3000Vcc units for line service. First 4 diesel locos now testing are actually on lease from Leon D'Oro of Marmirolo; two locos are in Novate depot and are coming from Ceck Republic, of the same type already own by FAS. Other 2 locos - former Railitaly - are from ex DB/DR 202 group and now are on test in Iseo, even if they did just some runs and on the hard and steep bresciana's line their hydraulic traction worked absolutely not well. All this just while waiting the arrival of 12 units of the 752/753 ceckian class right in the next months. More, some news talk about other 20 units of various types, probably coming from Belgium, Croatia or again Ceck Republic. But for now every traction unit is working under an hard turning, among cargo trains on RFI trackage, commuter service on FNM or heavy steel freights over former SNFT line. For this meaning in the Iseo' shop 4 old Cne locos are under rebuilding with new motors and colors. They will be used coupled in pair to shunt trains in Domodossola and Melzo yards, leaving free DE.145 locos to other services. The container terminal is now operated by SerFer, which uses 2 shunt yellow locos with side rods trasmission to rack wagons and build up the consist of the freights then travelled by FNM. So, let's all wait the future and the growing of these traffics and overall with what kind of locos they will be done! Maybe new photo opportunities are ready to come!