Società Veneta Ferrovie.

On October 2nd we held our last open day at Cabina A signal box.



Next Saturday we held a first photographers oriented event in Primolano. This time the paying public had an unhindered view of the engine moving on the yard and then more and more night shots:


(On the platform)


(turning the engine)


(from the other end of the engine)

(The engine, the platform, the village and the "Scale" (ladders) ancient road and cutting fort ruins in the background)

And finally, on October 9th, our last Open Day. Or the First New Open Day? Who knows...



Nicolò, our signaling wizard, freshly assigned by RFI(Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) to stationmaster duties in Portogruaro/Caorle Station prepares to give the "way clear" signal to one of the many rounds of our railway draisine. The headboard carries a description of the vehicle "1945 4 wheels cart on loan of use from RFI to Società Veneta Ferrovie, preserved in Primolano Locomotive Shed". But something is going to happen. What's thinking Andrea, leaning against the barrier? Are Lucia and Luigi too busy on the gadget shop?

Is this just "couple another coach" for our mighty Luca?

https://youtube.com/shorts/HCQ_oAaN17E?feature=share

How do you feel, Mr. Station Master, reading to give the "All Clear" to the engine?


I know, because you told it on our chat. It was a big emotion to give that signal, it was a big emotion for you and all the volunteers acting as bobbies at each point (yessir, something like 1830 L&M), because there will be a before that moment and an after that moment:

IT WAS THE START SIGNAL FOR THE FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN. LADIES, GENTLEMEN: THE PRIMOLANO MUSEUM RAILWAY IS OPEN!

And that below is not just a picture. It is a document of hour history: "The first passengers on the railway".



A great emotion also for Lucia and Luigi, now performing conductor duties, and for all our passengers because it was their firs taste of "traveling on old trains".

The train runs on a some hundred meter "line" within our yard, plans are to extend the route to get very close to the main building.

Another milestone reached, a long journey ahead. But we have a great team.



Celebration time tonight!

 

Bravi! Notizia fantastica.
Well done, such a leap forward
for Italian railway preservation.

 

Well done and every good wish from the UK

 

Anniversay Notice!

17 yeas ago today, "A" signal box was de-activated and decommissioned. After controlling the yard device one last time, to set them in the position expected by the incoming, "Star Wars grade" computer system, her link with the railway was cut forever.
The next year she would have become out "Club Houuse" starting the restoration and reativation-through-a-simulated-yard that has been shown before in this thread.

Today SVF has just released a video celebrating the anniversary:

SVF proudly presents:
"Il Capostazione"
(The Station Master)​

* *​

Starring Sergio
Directed By Nicolò​

Sergio was indeed Station Master in Padua station in November 2005. Nicolò is the driving force behind the reactivation of the SASIB frame and other devices in the Signal Box, reactivation that turned the signal box from a simple museum to an interactive museum where visitors can "build the route" and then see the simulated train movements. The last switches shown are indeed those of “The Beast”, the device that allows us to show to the attendance the simulation of the trains moving on the yard.

I followed the works to restore and reactivate the signal box, I even did (or tried to do) something. But this video really moved me.

Other News


On Friday 25/11/2022 a successful record attempt was performed in the yard of Primolano Railway Museum.
Mr Alex Camera pulled our FFi van (14.5 metric tons) on a 50 meters distance in 61.55 seconds. Distance, time, rail gradient (level) were certified by Federazione Italiana Cronometristi (https://www.ficr.it/).

You can see a video of the record here https://www.quotidiano.net/cronaca/record-alex-camera-vagone-1.8322381

During trainig session, Mr. Camera uplifts 220kg during "squat" exercises, this allowed me to roughly evaluate, assuming that he pulled full strength for all the 50 meters, a power output of about 1.5 kilowatt.

This exploit will grant to the museum television exposure on the nationally broadcasted Mediaset "Studio Aperto Magazine" news magazine.

 

Today Mr. Camera exploit was shown on Mediaset "Studio Aperto Mag", about 5 minutes that, even if centered on the athlete, gave a good coverage of our museum.

Furthermore, the "Il Capostazione" short movie earned to Sergio an interview on a regional newspaper, "Il Gazzettino" , 3 columns, half page with a screenshot and a picture of Sergio before retirement, we have preserved and will re-activate the panel shown in the picture. We estimate that we are justo to ⅓ of the total restoration work. During his interview, Sergio paid a well earned tribute to Corrado and Nicolò.



And an "Errata Corrige" is required there, the movie director was Mr. Matteo Contarin, a professional movie maker from Padua. Nicolò was the consultant for the items to be shown in the movie. And the driving force of the restoration of the signal box. The article has been cut because I don't know if sharing a full article is considered "fair use" by the copyright holder.

Back to Primolano. The place is wearing its Christmas outfit, as you may see from the picture below. There was no much activity in the yard, except some shunting. All the work done was on preparing the 880.001 for the winter. So, enjoy these winter pictures of Primolano!






And remember! Santa sees you! So don't be naughty or...