Электровозы E.645 и E.646: История и Эксплуатация на Железных Дорогах Италии

The FS E.645 and E.646 are two classes of similar electric locomotives used on Italian railways. They were introduced during the 1950s and they were retired in 2009.

The E.646 and E.645 locomotives project was started in 1953, with a new model engine that was to be installed on the modified chassis of the already existing six axle locomotive E.636. A similar concept for a 4 axle locomotive led to the development of the E.444 high speed locomotive in the 1960s. The first prototypes were delivered in October 1958. The first thirty seven individual locomotives differed only in their livery: twenty built for passenger traffic were painted in grey green, while seventeen built for goods were painted in auburn. Later, the freight locomotives were reclassed E.645. The total number of locomotives built amounted to 295 units. Initially, the class E.646 was assigned to fast and heavy passenger trains while the class E.645 was assigned to heavy cargo trains, though it occasionally pulled also passenger trains. Responding to the need for push pull locomotives, units E.646 187 to 210 were manufactured with control circuits and connectors to be remotely commanded. With the availability of newer locomotive types the E.646 were replaced for fast passenger trains by E.444 and later by E.656 in long range passenger trains. Eventually most of the class E.646 was converted to FS Trenitalia push pull services, while the remaining others were converted in E.645 and assigned to goods services until 2009. They were replaced by E.464 engines on regional services.

For testing purposes, units E.645.016 and 017 were built with an even shorter gear ratio (20/69) that allowed a maximum speed of These units were intended to be used for hauling heavy trains on steep lines. This modification was not applied to other E645s, however units 016 and 017 remained on regular service with their gear ratio for many years. Unit 016 was scrapped prematurely, after being involved in Murazze di Vado (see below) accident in 1978, while unit 017 reverted to the usual 21/68 ratio in the first half of the 1990s; however it retained the shorter roncola with considerably less notches than the usual E.645/6 ones.

On April 15, 1978, an accident involved units E.645.016 and E.636.282 in Murazze di Vado (in the province of Bologna). The train hauled by the two locomotives derailed due to damage to the line caused by a landslide, and ended poised over a slope. When the first rescue had already arrived, both locomotives were hit by an ALe 601 railcar on the express service Freccia della Laguna; the railcar coaches fell into the slope, while the locomotives piled up one on top of the other on their sides. The accident caused 32 deaths and 120 wounded. Verona's football club was travelling on the Freccia della Laguna train. They escaped unhurt because at the time of the accident they were having lunch in the restaurant wagon. After the accident, E.645.016 was scrapped. In Florence Firenze Castello station, on March 23, 1998, unit E.646.009 was hit by EMU ETR 480 34, that was running between Rome and Bergamo, and that passed a signal at 'danger' without stopping (SPAD); the accident caused one dead and 39 wounded. The E.646 was later decommissioned.