FS Class E326
Encyclopedia
The FS
E326 was a class of Italian railways electric locomotive
s. Designed in 1929, they were introduced in the early 1930s, for hauling passenger trains at relatively high speed.
, designed for high mass trains, the E626
, for multirole purposes, and the E326, a smaller locomotive to be used for hauling lighter passenger trains.
During the tests the locomotives, having a nominal maximum output of 2,100 kW (2,800hp), reached a top speed of 140 km/h (87mph). This was obtained through the use of large traction wheels, inspired to those of the contemporary steam engines, and an extra-long gear ratio of 29/103. The choice of the 2-Co-2 wheel arrangement, having a 3-axle central rigid bogie with four trailing axles, caused reliability problems and caused in 1936 the reduction of the maximum speed allowed to 105 km/h (65mph).
In the course of World War II
, all the 12 units produced were damaged by Allied bombings. They were repaired in the Foligno
workshop (except with the 006, repaired at Bologna
), and returned into service in 1949 with light modifications, including a new brown color scheme.
The maximum speed was further reduced to 90 km/h (56mph) in the 1960s. The E326s were retired from service starting in the 1970s, and demolished. Today only one unit survives, (E326.004), preserved in the National Railroad Museum of Pietrarsa, near Naples
.
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
E326 was a class of Italian railways electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s. Designed in 1929, they were introduced in the early 1930s, for hauling passenger trains at relatively high speed.
History
The E326 was part of family of locomotives designed in the 1920s and in 1930s for Italy's state railroad, which, through the use of a great number of standardized components, granted a short repair time of the frequent breakdowns. These included the E428FS Class E428
The FS E428 was a class of Italian railways electric locomotives. They were introduced in the course of the 1930s, for fast services on the Florence-Rome line, being decommissioned in the 1980s.-History:...
, designed for high mass trains, the E626
FS Class E626
The FS E.625 and E.626 are two classes of Italian electric locomotives produced for the Ferrovie dello Stato. They were introduced in the course of the 1920s and remained in service until the 1990s...
, for multirole purposes, and the E326, a smaller locomotive to be used for hauling lighter passenger trains.
During the tests the locomotives, having a nominal maximum output of 2,100 kW (2,800hp), reached a top speed of 140 km/h (87mph). This was obtained through the use of large traction wheels, inspired to those of the contemporary steam engines, and an extra-long gear ratio of 29/103. The choice of the 2-Co-2 wheel arrangement, having a 3-axle central rigid bogie with four trailing axles, caused reliability problems and caused in 1936 the reduction of the maximum speed allowed to 105 km/h (65mph).
In the course of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, all the 12 units produced were damaged by Allied bombings. They were repaired in the Foligno
Foligno
Foligno is an ancient town of Italy in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria, on the Topino river where it leaves the Apennines and enters the wide plain of the Clitunno river system...
workshop (except with the 006, repaired at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
), and returned into service in 1949 with light modifications, including a new brown color scheme.
The maximum speed was further reduced to 90 km/h (56mph) in the 1960s. The E326s were retired from service starting in the 1970s, and demolished. Today only one unit survives, (E326.004), preserved in the National Railroad Museum of Pietrarsa, near Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.