FS Class 835
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1906 |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Steam locomotives (Class 835) |
The Class 835 steam locomotive, known in Italian as Gruppo 835, was the primary shunter powered by steam operated by the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS; Italian State Railways). It features a whyte notation of Template:Whyte/0-6-0T.
Design and construction
Originating from the design efforts of the Turin branch of the Rete Mediterranea, the Class 835 incorporated lessons learned from earlier models such as the FS Class 829 and FS Class 830 I. In particular, it adopted the boiler from the Class 830 but paired it with an engine equipped with larger cylinders.
The initial batch of 97 units, all manufactured by Ernesto Breda up to 1908, were fitted exclusively with a counter-pressure steam brake system. Later production models were upgraded to include air brakes.
Between 1908 and 1922, a total of 370 locomotives of this class were produced—despite interruptions caused by World War I. Manufacturers included Breda, Ansaldo, Reggiane, and Officine Meccaniche. This made the Class 835 one of the most widely produced steam shunters in use on Italian railways.
Service
Commonly referred to as "Cirilla" or "Pierina", the Class 835 locomotives primarily served in shunting roles across the entirety of the Italian rail network. During the 1930s, a number of these units were temporarily assigned to various private railway companies or industrial enterprises.
Following World War II, three locomotives (numbers 019, 198, and 220) remained within Yugoslavia's borders and were incorporated into the Yugoslav Railways fleet, retaining their original identification numbers.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, components such as frames, wheels, and coupling rods from several Class 835 engines were repurposed in the construction of 40 electric shunters of the E.321 Class and 20 units of the E.322 Class, alongside 29 diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives classified as D.234 Class.
The Class 835 remained operational until the cessation of routine steam locomotive services on the FS network, with approximately 30 units still in active use during the early 1980s.
Preservation
A total of 54 locomotives from the Class 835 have been preserved, reflecting their popularity as static displays during the final phase of steam traction. Examples are housed within multiple Italian railway and transport museums, including notable institutions such as the Pietrarsa railway museum and the Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia "Leonardo da Vinci". At present, none of these preserved locomotives are maintained in operational condition.
Notes
Bibliography
- Cornolò, Giovanni (October 2014). "Locomotive a vapore". TuttoTreno (4).
- Template:Kalla-Bishop-FS-Steam