TARGET

Its next target is to preserve the railway heritage - from the tracks to the stations and the lines themselves - by applying the idea of tourism railway also to those lines where no train can momentarily operate; indeed FTI wants to introduce in Italy a new kind of tourism which is enjoying great success abroad: excursions by bycicles that are equipped to drive on railway tracks.

These kind of bycicles with 4/6 seats were once used by the State Railway to survey the lines. With the support of "Amico Treno" and other magazines, we have been searching for those old vehicles; unfortunately we had to record that they have almost disappeared from Italy and those remaining can hardly operate. As a consequence of this we have drawn up a new project together with other F.I.F.T.M. members, in particular M.F.P. (Museo Ferroviario Piemontese - Piedment Railway Museum); the project purposes to create a completely new prototype by Itera Srl (we would like to call it "ciclotreno" - "biketrain") that will hopefully be ready as soon as possible. This will be the chance to apply this peculiar way to re-open dismissed railways also in Italy. Its advantages: the preservation of the environment, low costs and the possibility to use these preserved infrastructures in the future for rail services.

Lately the association has bought some veteran rolling stocks like for example the historical railcar Macchifer Aln 1204 (Schienenbus kind) dated 1957. Closed the restoration by LeNORD and FTI at the Iseo Depot in the summer 2007 (just in time to be present at the great festival of September), the historical railcar, the last of its kind in Italy, is now returned in service for the happiness of many tourist people. Now it's one pieces of the vintage park of LeNORD.

Beside the historical rail-car mentioned above, FBS has lately gained four wagons built by "Officine Meccaniche Stanga" and dated 1936 (but still in good conditions). They belonged to the "Ferrovie Venete" and operated on the Parma-Suzzara line until few years ago. Thanks to their big windows they suit tourist purposes and they will probably be hauled by a steam engine.

To the young purchases count also two Badoni with hydraulic-diesel traction (Mod. ABL, IV type dated 1957 and ABL, VI type dated 1964) and they will be employed to survey the line. In November 2009 has also arrived on the tracks of Palazzolo a "sogliola", type ABL IV N, dated 1938, donated to the Association by Trafilerie Gnutti in Chiari.

A last consideration: this is what a volunteer association could create in a few years. These are the first important steps for a brand new branch that has great perspectives. Just look at the experiences abroad! We have to notice that other countries show much more sensibility toward this issue but still we would like to underline what a economic growth this environmental-friendly tourism could develop.