In the second half of the 80s, with the locomotives fleet badly ageing, FSE was in need of new tractive units. At the same time the firm IMPA/ITIN of Catania developed a diesel locomotive with electric transmission, two two-axles bogies, a power of 1220 kw and a max. speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). The heel network ordered three units (two more were ordered by ACT, the successor of CCFR) that were delivered in 1987/88 and demonstrated to be troublesome, especially in the managing electronics. Classified as DE 122 401-403, they have been stopped various times for modifications. In the same time IMPA/ITIN became bankruptcy (the firm had been set up mainly to collect state and European funds for industrial development in depressed areas, in the best Italian style) so there was no technical support.
From the ashes of previous builder (probably with the help of a typical Italian organization that begins with M and finishes with A) born the new firm DPA, to which the disastrous FSE management ordered, in 2006, five more locomotives in spite of the problems of the previous ones.
The new series, DE 122 410-414, received a different prime mover (Caterpillar instead of Breda) and other slight modifications and has been mainly dedicated to push-pull services with double decker stock because of disappearing of freight traffic.
But also this second series is problematic and the scarce know-how of the FSE workshop not helps.
The actual situation sees the three first series locos dumped out of use because of spare parts fault (the ACT units too are standing for the same reason) and the five others working mainly between Bari and Putignano with commuters services, with frequent passages in the workshop to tentatively solve the continuous troubles (a first series machine is being cannibalized to furnish some not to be found parts).
In the end, another sad page of the corruption between bad management, politics and business that is the disgrace of Italian railways.
My friend S. Paolini, during a visit to Bari depot in 2008, immortalized second series DE 122 413 and 410, then new, and first series DE 122 401, already not in perfect condition, waiting for attention.
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Two months ago, during another tour on FSE, again Mr. Paolini photographed DE 122 412 at the head of three double decker coaches entering Triggiano station.
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The two images courtesy of Photorail.
Ciao
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