After opening the 'direttissima' Florence-Bologna line, electrified in direct current, and following the electrification of the entire Milan-Rome line in 1938, it resulted necessary to build new high-performance locomotives for the long distance express services. Fabricated in three series between 1934 and 1943, this class of locomotives remained unchallanged as the most powerful and faster of the Italian State Railways for nearly 30 years. The class FS E428 locomotive started hauling the most important express trains on the great lines and have run all the main lines of the Italian railways network in their service. Today, 3 locomotives of this class are efficient to haul vintage trains.

Photo by Luca Catasta

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