FS Class E.428

Ferrovie dello Stato (FS)

Industry	Railway
Founded	July 1, 1905 (1905-07-01)
Headquarters	Italy
Products	Electric locomotives (including E.428 series)

The E.428 series, operated by Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), represented a class of Italian electric locomotives deployed during the 1930s to serve high-speed routes, particularly on the Florence–Rome railway. These locomotives remained in operation until their retirement in the late 1980s.

History

During the 1930s, amid the Fascist regime's extensive railway modernization initiative, FS required a new electric locomotive capable of fast service on the freshly electrified Milan-Rome corridor operating at 3,000 V DC. This need coincided with the introduction of metallic passenger coaches engineered for increased speeds. The project was entrusted to FS’s engineering division led by Ing. Giuseppe Bianchi in Florence.

At the time, the resulting locomotive was remarkable—substantial in size, weighty, powerful, and swift. Compared to the earlier FS Class E.626 locomotives—the first Italian direct current electrics—the E.428 was approximately 4 metres (13 ft 1+1⁄2 in) longer and weighed between 10–20 tonnes (9.8–19.7 long tons; 11–22 short tons) more. Initially, a top speed of 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph) was specified, but this figure was later adjusted downward to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).

The E.428 was developed alongside a lighter counterpart, the FS Class E.326, which ultimately did not meet expectations and was limited to lower speeds.

Originally, the wheel configuration planned was a 2-Do-2 arrangement featuring four leading axles and a single motor powering four central wheels. However, lessons learned from the E.326 led to dividing the central bogie into two motorized bogies instead. The prototype unit, E.428.001, was completed in May 1934. Production of the first series reached a total of 97 units by 1937. A subsequent batch within this series incorporated modifications such as a shorter gear ratio (29/103) and enlarged air intakes, resulting in an additional weight increase of four tons.

File:Rimini - deposito locomotive - locomotiva E.428.226.jpg

"Streamlined" design of E.428.226 from the third series.

The second series consisted of 81 locomotives that featured the elimination of front bonnets in favor of a more aerodynamic driving cab design—a style that influenced all future Italian locomotive aesthetics. On April 5, 1939, a third order for 80 units was placed; however, construction ceased after completing only 39 due to World War II interruptions. Some units produced by Ansaldo were theoretically capable of reaching speeds up to 150 km/h.

Post-war, all but two E.428 units underwent repairs or rebuilding efforts. Notably, the bronze fascist lictorial emblems affixed to their fronts were removed only after 1946. During the 1960s, locomotives classified as "Fast sub-class" with gear ratios of 34/98 were reverted to the shorter ratio of 29/103.