THE AGE OF A 668 DMU
2004 : the end of an entire career on FS/TI metals is about to come for some of the early classes of ALn.668, which are now starting to show all their age. Infact storing and withdrawal of many units of series 1500, 1600 and - as predictable - soon also 1700. To eyes of every passenger it's clear the gap of comfort from one of these units compared with ALn.663... To railfans eyes these dmus seem still modern, mainly because they first represented a FIAT building philosophy which will have accompained the building of all other 668 series until 3300 in the 80's. With first 668.1500s a new "beige pergamena e blu orientale" color scheme was applied, lasted until ALn.663 before the arrival of horrible XMPR scheme, painted as a replacement of early "verde lichene e beige" livery and even earlier two-tone brown of old Littorine. With 668.1500 a new body design was invented, lasted until the light trasformation played in the 70's on the front ends: from first 668.1500 to last 668.1800 the roof on the fronts is rounded down on front curved windows, while on communication doors it's discontinued in a little higher roof. From prototype ALn.668.1999 (then ALn.668.11 of private line FSF, now FER) the stylistic design change to a completely winded and rounded front remained 'till last 668 serie: 3300 class. Even the final system to manage communication-bellows has started with 1500s - and Breda parents 668.2400 - and is still the same then adopted with modern ALn.663, having avoided the complicate gear then used on ancient 990 and 880 dmus. They started even a new project meaning, with automobilistic parts and modular assembly which permitted a faster and low cost production of 128 units + 23 trailers, with boogies and engines in common to diverse series. For these meanings the 668.1500s can be easily considerated as the first break off point from the past railways and in this way a projectual bridge lasted at least 8 years. To see in our days first units of these dmus stored for scrap has something of strange, if you don't count the years of service of first railcars, raising the 40 top. The spirit of this issue is to analyze which trains are still in charge to our units (1500, 1600 and 1700 series), which units are stored or already scrapped and which ones are about to find a new life under new private owners or operators. ALn.668.1500 - 75 units built from 1965 to 1967 - are actually assigned to Cremona (14) and Novara (28) depots and formally they run many trains on secondary lines operated by these two plants: Alessandria-Castagnole-Alba-Cavallermaggiore, Asti-Castagnole, Asti-Acqui Terme, Asti-Casale-Mortara, Pavia-Vercelli, Pavia-Alessandria, Vercelli-Casale, Novara-Romagnano-Varallo, Arona-Santhià, Pavia-Codogno and short runs between Tortona and Novi Ligure (now and until new advise playied by bus). In Sicily, last 1500s own to Catania depot (9) and work with few trains on Modica/Siracusa, Caltanissetta via Modica and Taormina. In the table there are all the planned services, even if usually other class dmus can substitute them. Many units of 1500 family are missing, already scrapped ( 1503, 1507, 1515, 1518, 1519, 1520, 1522, 1526, 1527, 1540, 1543, 1544, 1546, 1551, 1555, 1567 all sicilian) or sold (like 668.1534 now in Kosovo after having been used by italian KFOR soldiers as material and people transporter). Five trailers Ln.882 are now under FER owning and after a medium rebuilding they will be used on services operated by this society, under the new "flag colors" scheme (1501, 1503, 1510 , 1513, 1515). ALn.668.1600 - 33 units built in 1970/71 and since then always assigned to sicilian lines - are available in Catania depot (26) and travel with services on Siracusa, Gela/Caltagirone, Caltanissetta via Modica, Licata, Roccapalumba and even Agrigento. Some units are already stored for scrap (1602, 1604, 1611, 1619, 1620, 1627 in Sferro) while units still working are in turn with those few 1500s yet live. Even here we have to sign first sellings to other operators, with 3 units to FER (1619, 1631 e 1628) now painted in new "italian flag" color scheme. Finally, ALn.668.1700 - only 20 units built in 1972 - works in Verona (15) and Novara (5) depots. The Veronese units make an huge number of trains on Verona, Legnago, Monselice, Mantova and Modena lines and all the shuttle services between Modena and Carpi. It's noticeable that Verona depot uses still these dmus on an interregional train (Verona-Piadena-Parma- Fornovo), sequel of the long gone "Freccia della Versilia" express, in the past made by ALn.873/773. Novara's units run with some trains on Varallo Sesia line and with few services on the Novara-Oleggio-Laveno, before made by ALe.803. In the next future 4 units will be purchased by ST operator (former FAM) which want to rebuilt them and repaint'em in the new livery; these four will come to replace other 3 similar dmus now under lease from FS. A more detailed list of all the services now done by our dmus is reported in the table below. The table lists all the trains "formally" in charge to these units, even if more often other class of dmus replace them in their works, also on lines with a dark future. It's evident many units will be still on tracks until the arrival of new diesel Minuetto trains; when this will happen, many railcars of more recent classes will be reassigned to various depots and in a hit 3 classes of dmus will vanished, after 40 years of heavy daily duty on mountain lines (such as Merano-Malles or the Valsugana line) and on flat countries (along the Pavia-Mantova together with old 990s). We'll maybe have the possibility to see them again in action under new colors for a new operators so....Take nice shots!