From Novara to Biella and Santhià
Biella, town of an old texile tradition, is reached by two local lines with a complicate history. The ones coming from Novara was initially the private line called SFBN, merged into FS in the 50's; the line coming from Santhià was the SFB, merged in the 40's too. The two stations of the past in Biella town were unified in Biella S.Paolo in the 60's, making the exercise easier than before. These two lines have always been branch lines, overall when all trains are in charge of autorails. The Novara line leaves the station from Torino's side, is lost among rice fields until it reach the little Nibbia' station (the name stands for "fog"...), then Casaleggio, Sillavengo and Carpignano. Before getting the next stop of Ghislarengo, tracks cross the Sesia river with a beautifull stone bridge. At Rovasenda the line is beside to the tracks coming from Santhià to Arona. In this station the lay out is particular: two diverse yards at two levels sign the difference between our line and the original FS one. Again, metals go through rice fields, touching the abandoned stop of Masserano and getting the next station just at Cossato, after many kilometers. From Cossato until Biella the area is an industrial suburb, once upon a time ran by the narrow gauge trains of the FEB, a network closed in the 50's. Trains stop then in Biella Chiavazza and, after a tunnel, arrive at Biella S.Paolo. In this large yard the abandoned freight equipments and the old depot stand like remembrance of the past. Outside the passenger building in the past started their trips the tramcars of the Oropa's line and the trains of the FEB. Between Novara and Biella 15 couples of trains actually run the line, 4 of which are loco-hauled. All trains are in charge of autorails ALn.663, 668.1500/1800 and D.345 + coaches. Freights are rare: just if there are wagons in Rovasenda yard, the normal train Novara - Romagnano - Borgomanero - Novara can be rerouted on this metals. From Biella trains leave the station fot Santhià making a wide curve until the nice station of Candelo, where a container yard is served by the unique regular freights of these lines. This on monday is double-hauled by D.345 locos. From Candelo, with another curve, trains get the strange station of Sandigliano - built separate from trackbed - then reach Vergnasco and Salussola. Among fields, we touch the abandoned stop of Brianco and finally, siding the line from Arona, we stop our run at Santhià station, on the Milano - Torino line. Even here 16 couples of trains serve the line, all made by autorails. Both lines where the last seeing in service old autorails like ALn.772, 773 and 668.2400. Taking pictures here has always been an exercise to start own experience: flatlands, easy possibility of trying equipment and exposures are a meaning to come here on these lines. The real problem is finding locations without a good map: many places among ricefields and rivers are reachable just with rural routes and much patience. Some easier spots are : Sillavengo's bridge, nice in the afternoon; Sesia river's bridge; Rovasenda station and Masserano's one. On Santhià line places are few: Candelo station, Sandigliano and Salussola ones and some fields near Brianco. The best period is obviously April/May, because rice fields with the water reflecting trains is a real strange ambience. Trying taking pictures here will be surely a nice and easy experience.