Hello, I am being sent to Pistoia for a few days an hope to have a spare day to play out. What's knocking about worth a look or ride out? Preferably Loco hauled. Probably not looking to travel to far maybe an hour or two. I have no clue at all and my Geography of Italy is woeful. Pictures for the hard of thinking would be appreciated. Thanks in advance
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Pistoia, Italy
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eastwestdivide
Established Member
The google maps aerial shot of Pistoia shows two services in the station - one EMU and one loco push-pull. Italy uses a lot of E464 locos on push-pull stock for regional express services.
I'd have thought a trip into Pisa or Florence would be worth a ride.
Don't forget to bring us a trip report back!
I'd have thought a trip into Pisa or Florence would be worth a ride.
Don't forget to bring us a trip report back!
From a tourist viewpoint Lucca also apparently scores highly.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Pistoia is where Hitachi (formerly Ansaldo Breda) lives - but maybe you know that, or it is the reason you are going....
So you might expect to see new Trenitalia ETR1000s around the factory area, and maybe bodyshells for our class 800s.
Plenty to see in Florence, of course, or Pisa, rail or otherwise.
Pistoia is at the southern end of the first railway through the Apennines between Bologna and Florence, and has significant historic structures.
Having been superseded by the 1934 Direttissima, and now the 2009 high speed line (both mainly in tunnel), it is now just a local line split at Poretta Terme.
It's known as the Porrettana Railway, more details and photos here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porrettana_Railway
So you might expect to see new Trenitalia ETR1000s around the factory area, and maybe bodyshells for our class 800s.
Plenty to see in Florence, of course, or Pisa, rail or otherwise.
Pistoia is at the southern end of the first railway through the Apennines between Bologna and Florence, and has significant historic structures.
Having been superseded by the 1934 Direttissima, and now the 2009 high speed line (both mainly in tunnel), it is now just a local line split at Poretta Terme.
It's known as the Porrettana Railway, more details and photos here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porrettana_Railway
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Thanks again. I am actually going buying specimen plants. I had no idea of the rail history. Brilliant
On one of my rail trips through Italy, the compartment I was in had a Canadian guy who worked for Vancouver city council as an architect.
His job involved annual trips to Carrera to buy marble for the council, for their major public buildings.
He had some spare time and was travelling to San Remo on the Ligurian coast for the weekend.
Nice work if you can get it!
Do have a good time.
100andthirty
Member
On the other side of the railway from the Hitachi Pistoia plant is a depot where a large number of historic locomotives are stored and the site includes workshop space for heavy maintenance of locos preserved in running condition. I have no idea about public opening, but if you Google ..... deposito treni storici pistoia ...... I believe there is a web site that might help.
Also just up the line, about a mile uphill from Montecatini Terme, there is a lovely ancient funicular. At the top there is a large number restaurants. The funicular runs till late, so it's possible for an evening trip........checking timetables of course. In Florence, as well as all the architecture and antiquities, there's a recently opened extension to the tram system.
Also just up the line, about a mile uphill from Montecatini Terme, there is a lovely ancient funicular. At the top there is a large number restaurants. The funicular runs till late, so it's possible for an evening trip........checking timetables of course. In Florence, as well as all the architecture and antiquities, there's a recently opened extension to the tram system.
Brilliant, thanks for the info. Only really got 2 evenings and 1full day, which is likely to be a train trip to Florence so the evening funicular sounds promising
axlecounter
Member
There are some historical trains running along the Porrettana too:
http://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazione/it/it/treni-storici.html
http://www.fondazionefs.it/content/fondazione/it/it/treni-storici.html
Sorry I am a bit late to the party, but just to add the historic Pistoia depot is part of The FS Foundation (its historic/museum arm) and more details (in Italian) are here http://www.fondazionefs.it/content/...age/deposito-rotabili-storici-di-pistoia.html Afraid it has no planned open days, but the list of dates are for specials running on the Porrettana route as mentioned above. More details for those specials are here https://www.porrettanaexpress.it - next 2 are 15 and 22 September.
Not sure when you are going, but I can thoroughly recommend the FS Foundation's trips as they are usually very good value for money (thanks to government and EU grant funds) supporting their activities.
I see axlecounter posted about these trips as I was typing too
Not sure when you are going, but I can thoroughly recommend the FS Foundation's trips as they are usually very good value for money (thanks to government and EU grant funds) supporting their activities.
I see axlecounter posted about these trips as I was typing too
Richard Scott
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Diesels used are D445s, not particularly loud due to large silencers but good enough. Almost all Florence (Firenze SMN station) to Siena trains are hauled during the week, not been there at the weekend for a while but think they probably are too. Leave Firenze SMN station around xx.10. Some evening peak trains to Borgo SL are also hauled during the week. If you go to Siena can view the depot by taking a short walk (withdrawn locos easy to see but some hard to identify, identifying working locos on depot would need binoculars or similar). Hope that helps?
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Thanks for the gen, we will pop to Firenze on Saturday so will have a look to see what, if owt is working. If there's one out I may be tempted but my better half may not be so fussed. :-P
I could go phot it before we go though hopefullyWe are coming home on the 22nd! A Shame but I can't really complain. All this info is brilliant, thanks
100andthirty
Member
This is the link to the Montecatini funicular https://www.funicolare-montecatini.it/
cactustwirly
Established Member
Florence is the better city.
The Florence/Pisa-Grosseto/Rome RE services are hauled by E464 locos and Double decker stock, or some old n-wagen looking stock.
Richard Scott
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Just be aware Firenze SMN station usually has barriers in operation and Siena trains go from platforms (usually 1-4) that are quite a way from barriers so will be difficult to see if hauled. May be worth buying a ticket to Firenze Rifredi (will be cheap) and taking the Siena train to there (it will stop but check departure board to be sure) and about half an hour later they'll be one back (think from platform 7, just use subway and go to next platform).
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