FS Class 552
The Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Class 552, formerly Rete Adriatica Class 180 bis, is a 4-4-0 steam locomotive; it was the final development in Italy of the 'American' express locomotive type.
Design and construction
Last in a line of successful 4-4-0 locomotives designed in Florence, the Class 552 was basically an evolution of the earlier Class 545 and Class 550 locomotives, with a larger boiler and bigger cylinders. The class was initially fitted with a prototype tender similar to the definitive one, but with only of water.The first series of 24 units was built in 1890 by Ernesto Breda and Ansaldo ; 12 more were built by Breda from 1900 to 1901.
Service
The Class 552 were primarily assigned to the most prestigious fast passenger trains of their time, notably the India Mail or Peninsular Express, which was part of the P&O relation between London and Bombay; in Italy, this train ran the itinerary Modane-Turin-Alessandria-Bologna-Ancona-Brindisi, where a ship took the passengers to Alexandria.However, they were the swan song of the two-wheeled express locomotives in Italy, as their relatively modest performance, at, quickly became insufficient; with the introduction of more powerful locomotives with three driving wheels, the Class 552 was soon relegated to secondary roles. However, unlike its predecessors, some locomotives of the class managed to survive until 1946, working around Treviso.