Industrial Locomotives Exported to Italy

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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'

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

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

PHOENIX Bg 3601 / DC 2726 1964 0-6-0DH on its way to Italy in 1974. Claudio Pedrazzini

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[/caption

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.

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" RR10200 1964 in use with Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy in June 1991.   Sergio Viganò

"Gwen" RR10200 1964 hauls newly built FS locomotive E.652.093 out of the Ercole Marelli Trazione factory, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy in June 1991.   Sergio Viganò

"Gwen" RR10200 1964 in use with Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy in June 1991.   Sergio Viganò

"Gwen" RR10200 1964 in use with Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy in June 1991.   Sergio Viganò

"Gwen" RR10200 1964 hauls newly built FS locomotive E.652.093 out of Ercole Marelli Trazione factory at Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy in June 1991.   Sergio Viganò

"Gwen" RR 10200 1964 in the yard of Rottami Metalli 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 in July 1974.  By 1991 it was in use with Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Province of Lombardy numbered 2. The company were subsequently known as Rotamfer and later as Rottami Metalli Italia. Later saw use at Rottami Metalli Italia S.p.A., Castelnuovo del Garda, Province of Verona. 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 is seen working for Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Province of Milan on 17th May 1991.  Sergio Vigano

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 is seen working for Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Province of Milan on 17th May 1991.  Sergio Vigano

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 is seen entering the ABB factory whilst working for Transider, Sesto San Giovanni, Province of Milan on 17th May 1991.  Sergio Vigano

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

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 at a scrap merchants in Arconate, north west of Milan, Province of Lombardy  on 29th November 2024.  Sergio Vigano

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 at a scrap merchants in Arconate, north west of Milan, Province of Lombardy  on 29th November 2024.  Sergio Vigano

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 at a scrap merchants Pastori Fratelli, via Beata Vergine 86, Arconate, north west of Milan, Province of Lombardy  on 29th November 2024.  Sergio Vigano

"Frank" RR 10209 1965 at a scrap merchants Pastori Fratelli, via Beata Vergine 86, Arconate, north west of Milan, Province of Lombardy  on 29th November 2024.  Also present is Badoni 7154 of 1967.  Sergio Vigano

Used at Buckminster Quarries, Lincolnshire until May 1972, then at Harlaxton Quarries, Lincolnshire. Exported to Italy via R. E. Trem, Finningley in 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, Province of Lombardy, numbered 1. The company were subsequently known as Transider, than Rotamfer and later as Rottami Metalli Italia.  By 2007 it was being used by Rottami Metalli Italia S.p.A. in part of the former Alfa Romeo Aresa Plant at Lainate, Milan, Province of Lombardy. 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 at Sesto San Giovanni.  During 2024 both locomotives were moved to the scrap merchant Pastori Fratelli, via Beata Vergine 86, Arconate. Arconate is a community roughly 16 miles north west of Milan, Province of Lombardy.

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

This locomotive is believed to be HE 7355 1974.  It was photographed at Tenaris Dalmine, Via Pio, Costa Volpino, Province of Bergamo in 2024. Alex Franini

This locomotive is believed to be HE 7355 1974.  It was photographed at Tenaris Dalmine, Via Pio, Costa Volpino, Province of Bergamo in 2024. Alex Franini

What is believed to be this locomotive was observed at Tenaris Dalmine, Via Pio, Costa Volpino, Province of Bergamo, north of Brescia in November 2019 and was still present in 2024.

HE 7407 1975 0-4-0 DH

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

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, Milan, Province of Lombardy

This page is maintained by Peter Hall.