Industrial Locomotives Exported to Italy

Diesel Dilemmas - top page

Ex BR Diesel Shunting Locomotives Exported to Italy

FH 3944/1960 that saw use at Queenborough in the company of ex BR Class 04 D2289 at Acciaierie di Lonato Spa, Lonato steel works, Brescia in April 2006. Francesco Bloisio

In addition to the Ex BR locomotives, several Ex industrial locomotives have also been exported to Italy. Those we are aware of are:-

Bg 3601 / DC2726 1964 0-6-0 DH 8411/1 'Phoenix'

Used at Harlaxton Quarries, Northamptonshire. Exported to Italy via R. E. Trem, Finningley 7/1974. Now fitted with a Cummings engine. Used at Feralpi, Lonato as No.3 “Phoenix” and is still present. Ex BR Class 04 D2242 was also used at this location.

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0D in the shed at BSC Minerals Harlaxton Quarries on 23rd March 1972. RCTS

PHOENIX Bg3601 / DC2726 1964 has now been located at the Feralpi steelworks at Lonato, Italy for over 45 years. This picture of it there was taken on 28th December 2018. Ermanno Barazzoni

BT 341 / BP 7948

Ex Renishaw Ironworks, Derbyshire, numbered 23, exported 1969 Still at Renishaw on 5th May 1969.  Possibly owned by Attilio Rossi, Rome when first in Italy.  Seen at Milano Greco locomotive shed on 9th March 1974.

FH 3944 1960

FH 3944 1960 plinthed at Vaia Car, Calvisano, Lombardy, Italy 26th July 2020 Stefano Paolini

FH 3944 1960 plinthed at Vaia Car, Calvisano, Lombardy, Italy 26th July 2020 Stefano Paolini

Originally sold to Settle Speakman, Queenborough, later Shipbreaking (Queenborough), being despatched by F. C. Hibberd on 8/8/1960. Exported to Italy in late 1971/early 1972. Used at Acciaierie di Lonato SpA, Lonato steel works , Brescia (company now known as Lonato SpA) and was still located there in 2006, the steelworks having become a sugar warehouse. Ex BR Class 04 D2289 was also located here until being repatriated in 2018.  When it left Lonato isn't known, however by July 2019 it was plinthed at Vaia Car, Calvisano, Lombardy, Italy.

FH 3986 1962

Originally sold to Settle Speakman, Queenborough, later Shipbreaking (Queenborough), being despatched by F. C. Hibberd 30/5/1962. Exported to Italy in late 1971/early 1972. An Italian magazine reported in 1976 that it had initially been used by a company called  LAMAFER.  Seen at IPE Workshops in March 1993.

HC D1265 1962 0-6-0

Ex Mersey Docks & Harbour Board 39. Exported to Italy c1974, possibly earlier. Initially used by Attilio Rossi, Rome.  Seen at Mount Mario Yard in February 1974.  Later at Attilio Carmagnani, close to Genoa. Last seen September 2005.

HE 2146 194x 0-4-0

This photograph of plinthed Hunslet 2146 was taken at Via Umberti Zerneri, San Felice del Benaco on 29th June 1986. Donata Rossi (Stefano Paolini collection)

Despatched from industrial service to C. F. Booth, Doncaster in 1966.  Probably had been acquired by R. E. Trem and stored there pending export.  Transported to Italy 1967/8. Could well have been the first ex industrial diesel locomotive exported to Italy where it was known to be working in the late 1960s. Firstly at Cooperative Ortofrutticolo, Lavezzola; then to Societa Longo, Ponte Ronca, Bologna. It was last seen in 1986 plinthed at the long closed works at Via Umberti Zerneri at the town of San Felice del Benaco on the coast of Lake Guarda. It has not been seen for years and may have been disposed of.

JF 22966 1941 0-4-0 DM rebuilt to DH in 1964

JF 22966 1941 (rblt 1964) in use at Siderpotenza steelworks, Potenza on 28th May 2010 Stefano Paolini

JF 22966 1941 (rblt 1964) in use at Siderpotenza steelworks, Potenza on 28th May 2010 Stefano Paolini

Last saw use in Great Britain at Eastern Gas Board, St Albans where it had been reported as scrapped in August 1972.  However, in May 2010 it was photographed in use at Siderpotenza steel works, Potenza, in Southern Italy.  Now understood to have been exported  in July 1972.  Still present in 2022.

RH xxxxxx 19xx 0-4-0 Dx (Class 165 Dx)

Ex ............ Exported to Italy 19xx. Used at Franchini, San Zeno Naviglia

RR 10200 1964 0-4-0 DH 'Gwen'

"Gwen" RR 10200 1964 in the yard of Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A., Castelnuovo del Garda on 20th June 2022. Salvatore de Liso

Used at Harlaxton Quarries, Lincolnshire. Exported to Italy via R. E. Trem Finningley 7.74. Used at Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A., Castelnuovo del Garda, Province of Verona (VR)  (Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A. were previously known as Rotamfer). Still present on 20th June 2022 carrying a label stating “Mezzi fuori servizio”, meaning the locomotive was no longer in service..  Not viewed during December 2022 so may have been disposed of.

RR 10209 1965 0-4-0 DH 'Frank'

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 is seen working for Celestri in the once major industrial area of Sesto San Giovanni in Northern Milan on 19th April 1990. Maurizio Messa.

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 is seen working for Celestri in the once major industrial area of Sesto San Giovanni in Northern Milan on 19th April 1990. Maurizio Messa.

Frank RR 10209 1965 rusting away along with Badoni 7154 1967 in the yard of Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A., Lainate on 11th November 2019 Mark Jones

Used at Buckminster Quarries, Lincolnshire until May 1972, then at Harlaxton Quarries, Lincolnshire. Exported to Italy via R. E. Trem, Finningley July 1974. Overhauled in December 1980 at a firm called RALFO at Olignate - Province of Lecco. In 1990 it was in use with Celestri, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan. By 2007 it was in use with Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A., who were using part of the former Alfa Romeo Aresa Plant at Lainate, Milan. The spur into the complex had been severed by 2019 and the area is now a business and retail park. However, a few hundred yards away is another of the yards belonging to Rottami Metali Italia S.p.A. and on 11th November 2019 it was found sat in that yard rusting away along with Italian Badoni 7154 of 1967 which had also once been used by Celestri at Sesto San Giovanni.

Also, five locomotives were built in Great Britain for use in Italian industry. These being:

FH 4022 1964  [narrow gauge]

HC D738 1952

HE 7355 1974

HE 7407 1975 0-4-0 DH

Fitted with a Cummins NTA855 L3 290kW engine. Built for use at Acciaierie e Ferriere, Lombarde Falck.

HE 8997 1981 0-4-0 DH

Fitted with a GM Detroit Diesel 12V-71N 335kW engine. Built for use at Acciaierie e Ferriere, Lombarde Falck.

One of the latter two is believed to be located at Tenaris Dalmine, Via Pio, Costa Volpino, Province of Bergamo, north of Brescia having been observed there in November 2019 painted yellow.

This page is maintained by Peter Hall.