Aosta '77 : from a children's memories
Of that far morning remained to me only confused memories. Finally are passed many years from then. I don't remember infact the transfer to Chivasso, remembering instead the excitation of being able to participate to an extraordinary show that my illuminated parent (Papŕ thanks) has thought more important than some day of school, convinced of being able to transmit me experiences that would be nearly soon vanished. Although my age (9 years) I knew already the steam locomotives because little kilometers from my house were rolling small 880s in service on the Airasca - Saluzzo. This in fact - because of the light armament - was one of the last lines managed by steam traction. But the astonishment in seeing that powerfull, immense machine to my eyes, standing in station of Chivasso waiting to haul us to the manifestation of Aosta that morning of 1977, is remained indelebile in my memory. I didn't know nearly null of that wonderful machine, they said to me that it was the last of 685s and I, not arriving even to the center of the wheels, remained fascinated to the sight of that elegant and powerful locomotive that all by now know with the name of "Queen". But the stronger emotions the 196 gave us while travelling: it blew with vigor and raw hauling with an appearing "nonchalance" the heavy consist of participants to Aosta. I cannot say how many persons were on that train but the 8 or 9 centoportes were crowded of persons, all outside from the windows also during the fastest passages. There were photographers everywhere, i remember even some Japaneses hunged to the signal poles along the line for being able to have a better view of the train. I remained astonished (and still today travelling with steam i smile thinking to the experience made) from the amount of unburnt coal that the machine erupted with the smoke; it forced me to hold the hands on sides of glances that a kind gentleman of the GATT (organizing the manifestation) had advised me to use. Arrived approximately to half of the distance I had an other surprise: after the stop of the train a new twistle was felt, not coming from the head of the train as I expected but from the nearby yard. Half-hidden in fact it was the 640.003, that with some shuntings came near to the heavy train to help pushing up with the 196 on the harder climbs towards Aosta. The 640.003 was completely polished and the obvious difference of dimensions regarding the sister in the head of the train made me this one more likeable, nearly more "human" to the eyes of a child which I was. I attended with trepidation the tweet from the tail that indicated the departure of the train in double traction, after the two ones coming from the head. So recommenced the adventure of the travel, still more satisfying than before, because on the curves the vision of the side rods in motion of the head machine was followed by the one of the tail loco: he was sufficient to turn the head admiring the beautiful 640. We arrives finally to Aosta , where i remained astonished from the amount of exposed and working locomotives. There were 740, 741, 743, 940, the 880 of Airasca, 835, 625, the 422.009 that will become the famous "Lucia" of the MFP. But the time dims the memories, so only thanks to some beautiful photographies, realized mostly from my dad, remain alive the events, during the development of the manifestation and during the transit of special trains for Nus with the 940 and the 743, beyond to a spectacular double symmetrical traction for Prč S. Didier. Share with you all these photos is at the same time making them live again and sharing a part of my memories.