ETR 200
Encyclopedia
The ETR 200 is an Italian electric multiple unit
(EMU) introduced in 1936.
, electrified the main line Milan
-Bologna
-Florence
-Rome
-Naples
and needed a fast train to use on it and on other newly-electrified ones. The project was started in 1934, using new technologies for steel
and aerodynamics
. The innovative nose of the train was developed after studies in the wind tunnel
at the Politecnico di Torino engineering university. The first example was built by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda
in 1936, with three cars on four bogie
s, two of which had a single T 62-R-100 motor while the others were provided with two similar motors each.
The train had been designed for speeds up to 175 km/h, but the first pantographs
caused problems over 130 km/h. The ETR 200 entered service in 1937 on the Bologna-Rome-Naples line. They were considered the most comfortable and fast trains in Europe, and Benito Mussolini
had one sent to the Universal Exposition in New York
of that year. On December 6, 1937 ETR 212 established, in the central sector of the Rome-Naples line (Campoleone-Cisterna), a new top speed record by running at 201 km/h.
On 20 July 1939, the ETR 212 driven by chief machinist Mr.Alessandro Cervellati, established a new world record running at 203 km/h from Pontenure
to Piacenza
(on the Milan-Bologna line). A popular myth says that Benito Mussolini himself was at the controls, but is proven to be fake.
The production of the ETR 200 was halted by World War II
, and many were damaged by Allied bombings. In the early 1960s the remaining sixteen units were converted to ETR 220/230/240 by adding a fourth car and other changes. They remained in service until the early 1980s, and were later used for charter trains up until the 1990s. Unit ETR 232, former 212, has been converted as a historical train and is fully working. Another non-working unit is stored in Ancona.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
(EMU) introduced in 1936.
Development
In the 1930s the Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello StatoFerrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
, electrified the main line Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
-Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
-Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
-Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
-Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and needed a fast train to use on it and on other newly-electrified ones. The project was started in 1934, using new technologies for steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
and aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. The innovative nose of the train was developed after studies in the wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
at the Politecnico di Torino engineering university. The first example was built by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda
Società Italiana Ernesto Breda
Società Italiana Ernesto Breda, more usually referred to simply as Breda was an Italian mechanical manufacturing company founded by Ernesto Breda in Milan in 1886. The firm originally manufactured locomotives and other railway machinery, but later branched out into armaments and aircraft. In 1962,...
in 1936, with three cars on four bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
s, two of which had a single T 62-R-100 motor while the others were provided with two similar motors each.
The train had been designed for speeds up to 175 km/h, but the first pantographs
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
caused problems over 130 km/h. The ETR 200 entered service in 1937 on the Bologna-Rome-Naples line. They were considered the most comfortable and fast trains in Europe, and Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
had one sent to the Universal Exposition in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
of that year. On December 6, 1937 ETR 212 established, in the central sector of the Rome-Naples line (Campoleone-Cisterna), a new top speed record by running at 201 km/h.
On 20 July 1939, the ETR 212 driven by chief machinist Mr.Alessandro Cervellati, established a new world record running at 203 km/h from Pontenure
Pontenure
Pontenure is a comune in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 140 km northwest of Bologna and about 9 km southeast of Piacenza...
to Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
(on the Milan-Bologna line). A popular myth says that Benito Mussolini himself was at the controls, but is proven to be fake.
The production of the ETR 200 was halted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and many were damaged by Allied bombings. In the early 1960s the remaining sixteen units were converted to ETR 220/230/240 by adding a fourth car and other changes. They remained in service until the early 1980s, and were later used for charter trains up until the 1990s. Unit ETR 232, former 212, has been converted as a historical train and is fully working. Another non-working unit is stored in Ancona.
See also
- High-speed rail in ItalyHigh-speed rail in ItalyHigh-speed rail in Italy currently consists of two high-speed lines connecting all the major cities in Italy. The first line connects Milan to Naples passing through Bologna, Florence and Rome. The second route runs from Turin to Venice via Milan, and is still under construction in some parts...
- Land speed record for railed vehiclesLand speed record for railed vehiclesDetermination of the fastest rail vehicle in the world varies depending on the definition of "rail".Official absolute world record for conventional train is held by the French TGV...
- Treno Alta VelocitàTreno Alta VelocitàTreno Alta Velocità SpA is special purpose entity owned by RFI for the planning and construction of a high-speed network in Italy.-Purpose:...