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Società Veneta Ferrovie.

Discussion in 'International Heritage Railways/Tramways' started by Saint, Jul 4, 2017.

  1. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Rebuilding the “Sogliola” (“Sole”) engine.

    Wheel bearings and hand brake levers back in their place.

    157DD2BC-3E53-4D61-9F78-E42519818C5B.jpeg
     
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  2. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    First update. Since bureaucracy is slower than disabled engine, SVF cannot yet run its engine on the Primolano-Bassano branch line, henceforth resolved to do some provisional Dicot Syle openings, the first one was in April, with about 600 visitors. That’s not bad considering the cloudy weather and the fact that there was nothing else to do in the village.

    9568643E-2659-4041-A0D9-AF6D713AF66A.jpeg
    Visitors in our first open day.

    52FA7380-CE71-45AE-B50D-E365510D5243.jpeg
    Another view of Primolano Locomotive Depot with the shed, the turntable (in working conditions, just the wooden parts missing, and our rolling stock parked outside the shed. A lot of visitors waiting in queue to visit the locomotive cab.

    77860C7A-D692-485A-889B-CEE840FA9557.jpeg
    Several visitors tried the ride on the 1946 rail cycle.
    02C13BDD-7161-4C2B-B7CE-1F07CA8E4208.jpeg
    Visitors in the corbellini coach.

    The next openings are planned for:

    May 13
    June 24 - a parade of preserved military vehicles will be held in Primolano (event christianed “Scala dei Motori”)
    July 15 - we hope to have 880.001 under steam.
    September 9 - the annual “Scala del Sapori” festival will be held in the village
    October 14

    I give you the dates “just in case”

    Some day after the open day, another freight car joins our collection:
    605F4FB8-4CB7-4CE5-9D55-5AC1A8B3F9B6.jpeg

    This is a “E” pattern open car and its Brunswick green (we call it “verde vagone” - “rail carriage green”) tells us that it was part of the rolling stock of the original “Società Veneta”, the railway company after which our association is named.
     
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  3. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Last Sunday it was sort of Christmas 2.0 for SVF.

    The motor of our “Sogliola” little shutter arrived in Primolano and was installed:
    B86D89FA-6E8F-49D7-BD5D-626A04E26FF2.jpeg
    Our shed master takes pictures of the gearbox installation

    044525B9-EF09-447E-A0CF-8E6F6C81484F.jpeg
    Fixing the bolts keeping motor and gear box together.

    C109D871-5216-4020-BC0F-11708290D52C.jpeg
    A closer view of the gearbox.

    Now we will install the refurbished radiator, gear control levers, complete the brake lever assembly, transmission chain. Furthermore we will complete the stripping of the old paint, repaint and reassemble the body. Then, no more freight wagon pushing!

    In the same day, DE424 04, one of the nine DE424 built for SocietàVeneta in the fifties to replace steam engines, and last one surviving in Ferrovia Adria Mestre, left Piove di Sacco on a dolly and reached Primolano around midday.
    67752822-838D-457F-B58B-31128D305918.jpeg

    The DE424 on the dolly just before entering Primolano depot area. This picture could give you an hint about why I labeled the position “Rivendell” on my GPS navigator.
    BECDA1C3-3238-4494-8CA5-7A3BAAE1C2ED.jpeg
    (No privacy issues with that car:D)

    The engine on the siding where it will await restoration.
    BC6D0766-113F-4FA4-8F76-80B2D9D1448E.jpeg

    Full functional restoration is a low priority issue at leas for now, we could use her only on our tracks and not on the line. Nevertheless, provided that we have the resource and no more important issue open...
    DC00D050-C1EC-4F47-B65C-C8B844A081E5.jpeg
    We could still use her should the Sogliola be unavailable. Again we had to push the wagons around as shown in the short movie, and since two of them had to cross the turning table -were it is impossible to walk- we had to ‘launch’ them fast enough
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2018
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  4. 240P15

    240P15 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you very much for interesting reading and the pictures you have posted!

    kind regards
    Knut:)
     
  5. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    A couple of cool pictures from our last open day, posted with permission of the model:
    78D02B52-26E5-4F15-97F8-BF8F6B1ABABE.jpeg
    In the first class section of our 2 axles coach.

    CE6A91A7-7B8F-4AB9-A105-588B7D0FF86A.jpeg
    In the second class (former third) of our 1936, two axles, coach.

    Things you discover thanks to social media: our newly elected president discovered this on Facebook

    and a German, keen eyed lokfürher and enthusiast recognized the coach under restoration as being of the same model of our 2 axles coach, as you may read in the comments.

    (Actually, one of the freight train it may have escorted... was not of freight at all.)
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2018
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  6. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Riccardo, one of our most active and younger volunteer, just restored the fuel line valve of the Sogliola engine. Next task, the fuel tank. The picture shows the piece before and after Riccardo's work. A great work in my (not so) humble opinion.

    FuelLine.png

    And the July open day approaches. This time not really a war (first world war) re-enactment, but a gathering of heritage military vehicles, it will be a busy day for the whole village!
     
  7. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Volunteer Andrea Zanettin shared some picture taken after the chain transmission has been refitted on our Sogliola. Furthermore, he found the original markings from the manufacturer: Antonio Badoni, Lecco (Italy):

    matricola.jpeg matricola2.jpeg catena1.jpeg catena2.jpeg catena3.jpeg
     
  8. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Federico Rigobello, our new president and the man who conceived the mute movie - shared these pictures of the air compressor for the Westinghouse brake:
    compressore1.jpeg compressore2.jpeg

    In the background the notice that welcomes the visitors to our museum-shed-workshop.
     
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  9. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Young Riccardo Palma shared on Facebook what look like the pictures of a brand new fuel tank. Wrong! It is the original Sogliola fuel tank that has been opened, thoroughly cleaned, carefully welded back together and repainted.
    FuelTank.png
    Please note the fuel line parts, already displayed in a previous post, now fitted to the tank.
     
  10. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    NEWS NEWS NEWS:Updated:

    Here are some updates from Primolano. We are still waiting for the paperwork to be complete to show our engine under steam. Rumors say that more than paperwork is "ruleswork", these rumors claim that there is no rule for our case. Rumors. But we can't show our perfectly functional 880.001 under steam. But we do not sleep.

    THEATRE

    On August 11th, 2018, Primolano Locomotive Depot hosted its first theatrical happening. Writer/Actress Paola Rossi with Mr. Carlo Presotto played the dramatic piece "ANIME DISPERSE – L’ODISSEA DEL PROFUGATO" (Lost souls - Evacuee Odissey) about the Val Brenta evacuees in late 1917, after the Caporetto Defeat. The Banda Brian provided musical accompaniment. Cismon Municipality and Valbrenta Mountain Union supported the event. As you can see from the picture, our 880.001 engine with the 2 axle "50 83 24-20 200-3 BI (Type 1936)" coach provided the scene for the play. A couple of young volunteers animated the locomotive cab during the play.

    This is the first of such events, since the main SVF goal is to use the train and the location to enhance tourism in the area.
    teatro1.jpeg


    Primolano_OperaEstate_2018-08-15_6.jpg

    Primolano_OperaEstate_2018-08-15_2.jpg

    SOGLIOLA

    Restoration work on the Badoni shunting engine (known as Sogliola - Sole - in Italian railway jargon) continues. Volunteers spend their holidays soldering, painting, refitting... The engine is virtually completed, the restored radiator has been set in place, repainting and refitting of the cab is started, we can't wait to restart the engine - we have to wait for batteries since the original crank handle is lost or has never been supplied (and most of all because there is only one crazed maniac that would like to attempt such maneuver - me o_O).

    In the meanwhile enjoy the pictures.

    sogliola01.jpeg
    Sogliola02.jpeg
    Sogliola03.jpeg
    Sogliola04.jpeg
    Sogliola05.jpeg
    Sogliola06.jpeg
    SVF renews its appeal for donations. Despite the fundraising campaign being over, expenses for transporting DE 424 and Sogliola restoration have not been full covered yet, we had to send the engine to a specialized workshop since its valves required a major overhaul and - surprise - two cylinders were seized up.

    Any donation is welcomed and cherished, you can donate following the PayPal button on SVF homepage, https://www.societavenetaferrovie.it or through HelpFreely https://www.helpfreely.org/it/nonprofits/it/svf-5345/. Thank you!

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2018
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  11. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Great pictures and thanks for posting. What size is the attachment for the starting handle? (I have one from an unknown engine hanging on the wall, I'll have to measure it properly and let you know)

    I must get over to Primolano, no excuse as Google says it's only 4 1/2 hours from Turin.
     
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  12. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    I will provide size and (if possible) a better picture than this. The head should have 3 pins, equally spaced (120°)

    sogliola7.jpeg
     
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  13. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    The one I have is only 2 pins... peccato!
    I will hunt around my usual places and if I find anything I will let you know.
     
  14. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Despite the lack of news from Northeastern Italy, SVF was not inactive. We secured spare parts for our Diesel locomotive DE424-004 and, on September 30th we had our stand in Prato dell Valle in Padua during the Volunteer Day fair. (Prato della Valle is , according to Wikipedia, the second larges Italian square and, always according to Wikipedia, in the World Top 50 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_squares_by_size). The picture shows a couple of volunteers (a random-oversized-one and Sergio, former stationmaster, our railways rule guru) explaining our projects and purpose to the fair visitors. nsogliola5.jpeg

    On October 7th we had one of our two yearly openings of Cabina A, the signal box that controlled the western yard Padova railway station. No pictures of this event but a link to the regional branch of our national broadcasting news service: https://www.rainews.it/tgr/veneto/v...aio-522da33d-43c3-481d-9042-eb827feb8811.html

    But we have a great news to report: our L914 Sogliola engine has been almost completly restored, MANY THANKS to all those who responded generously to our fundraising appeal!
    nsoglola1.jpeg

    The works are not fully completed: we still need to complete the piping for the Westinghouse brake (the gas bottles on the top of the roof are the brake air reservoir), the light circuits, some more coat of paint and finally fitting carters and grid. In the meanwhile she can start helping us, at least offering a better view of herself.

    Last sunday SVF had its last "Open Door" events for 2018, and the week before our rolling stock had their bath:
    nsogliola4.jpeg
    It may seem e menial and usual task, but for SVF is one more railway activity, while we still strive to get the paperwork to light the engine and then move our train, but we are more sturdy, resilient and headstrong of the difficulties. Carlo and Luca as usual on the front line!

    And finally a couple of pictures from our last event, our Sogliola (the star for the day) and Riccardo cleaning 880.001:
    nsogliola2.jpeg nsogliola3.jpeg

    Riccardo and Carlo were the leading forces in restoring the Sogliola engine, and Sunday Riccardo wore the engineer uniform (complete with soothed face) on the behalf of photographers.

    On the last weeks of October we will attend to a modeling exhibit that will be held in one of Padua industrial archeology shrines, the "Vecchio Macello" (old slaughterhouse) in Cornaro Street. Our volunteers will be there telling our story, explaining our projects and playing with kids, giving them the opportunity to drive a model train controlled with DCC (Rumors are that there could be some sort of Bluebell taste there :rolleyes:. Or York NMR taste... P P P P :)).
    That will be our last public activity for 2018.

    Our public activities will restart next years, ouw hearts and mind will not stop.
     
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  15. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    It is winter but we do not stop. Some of us manned our guest stand in a modeling exhibit that took place in one of Padua industrial archeology jewel, the so called "cathedral" of the former city slaughterhouse. We experimented the initial release of our multimedia setup, running non stop videos, shown some of the spare parts we gathered in a perfectly legal re-enactment of the initial parts of the "Operation Petticoat" movie: Sistemi Territoriali offered us a wealth of spare parts that will be vital in restarting DE424.004. But mostly we attracted lot of young people with the chance of driving a train on a layout. And while the children enjoyed the experience (believe me, a child exclaiming "Wow" is one of the best award you can have), we explained to the parents what our real train was, and invited them to visit both our former Padua Station signal box (Cabina A) and Primolano.

    And here we come. I bothered you too much with words. Ladies and Gentleman, SVF volunteers are glad to share with you these short clips:





    Sharing this video is our way to officially thank all those people who supported us in our effort to restore this little engine.

    The two videos show the engine before and after the completion of the body. The "Cabriolet" version was used in Norther Africa during World War II, when Sogliola (sole) engines had the honor of being used as mainline engines. The reservoirs over the roof are for the Westinghouse brake, not a standard fitting on these engines.

    But now some sort of first for us. We do not have a dedicated PWG, because we have just a yard and id was just restored. But we have some little jewels in our yard, Austrian built switches from the Belle Epoque and a turn table that is the only of her kind surviving in Italy. It is a 14.65 Austro-Hungarian turntable built between 1910 and 1918.
    Drehscheibe-14-65m-FB.jpg
    It replaces the original 15 meter turntable that was damaged beyond any recovery during WWI. The Italian Railway replaced the original turtable with this one, possibly taken from another north eastern station of those built under the Austrian Empire.

    Last sunday our volunteers started restoring its main pivot. The restoration of the turntable is now our top priority goal. Further information about this issue are currently classified :)

    thumbnail_image1.jpg
    Ready...

    thumbnail_image1(1).jpg
    Set ...

    thumbnail_image2.jpg

    Lift...
     
  16. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    I don’t know how common the Sogliola is but I saw one at the museum at Schwechat in Vienna when going past there recently.
     
  17. garth manor

    garth manor Well-Known Member

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    Fascinating thread, thanks
     
  18. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    Sorry if my reply is late.

    The “Sogliola” pattern engine (Breuer Type IV) was built in Italy by Antonio Badoni Lecco (ABL) firm, produced under license from the German company Breuer who developed that kind of minimalist shunting locomotive. And preserved locomotives of this type can be found in several European countries.

    Riccardo, one of the guys most involved in restoring our little engine, did some research and found some peculiar information about our locomotive: in the forties ABL faced a shortage of motors to power its rail tractors. Luckily they found some warehouse fund truck motors from Alfa Romeo firm. Do not dream of high speed and sport races, despite the Alfa Romeo name, these were old motors that nobody else needed in the war industry, less powerful than those they were going to replace. But adoni considered these motors viable, being able to run on either methane or petrol, and therefore built 20 locomotives with these Alfa Romeo engines and 3 speed gears. But they were so under-powered that their performance were those of a Type III and not of a Type IV. Badoni decided to keep the "Type IV" name, because of the engine architecture, but instead of using a 04xx serial number, they used o3xx serial numbers for these engines to mark the lack of power.
    Our Sogliola serial number is therefore 0315. The Alfa Romeo engine was replaced with a FIAT 326N -should be a proper motor for a Type IV- between 1944 and 1946 and finally with a FIAT 364 A 58 in 1948, the year Italy had its Republican Constitution.

    Many thanks to Riccardo for his researching, and now a picture showing our engine in a "mainline duty" in Emilia in 1976, fore receiving the cream and red livery still in use.
    97A6A6D7-778A-4C6A-9FB8-19117C391325.jpeg
     
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  19. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    [​IMG]

    Season greetings from SVF:

    "Our sincere Merry Christmas wishes and a serene New Year"
    And now, some words about this picture: it was shot the previous Sunday, there was a charter train from Carpanè - Valstagna to Levico(?) for the Xmas Market. Our Sogliola was shunting on the yard when the train, pulled by 740-293, passed. The two train crew exchange salute whistle blows, I will share the link to the movie as soon as I get it.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS, HO HO HO HO!
    (and belive me, I have the phisic du role :))

     
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  20. Saint

    Saint New Member

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    As promised, here is the short clip of the two train crews saluting each other:
     
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