In December 2018, the Fondazione FS launched an online archive of over 3,000 technical drawings produced by the historic Service for Material and Traction of the Italian State Railways. The digitized collection encompasses designs for approximately 400 railway vehicles, spanning from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1970s.
The archive documents the work of the former Service X, established in 1905 and active until the suppression of the Central Services of the Italian State Railways in 1986. The drawings, held at the historic Florence office on Via Spartaco Lavagnini, represent the primary and most comprehensive source for studying the history and technical evolution of Italian State Railways rolling stock.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes over 3,000 technical drawings related to the design of locomotives, passenger vehicles, and railcars. Beginning in 1915, the Service for Material and Traction published illustrated plates accompanied by technical specifications for all designs produced by its engineering departments, which oversaw locomotive design and vehicle development respectively. The archive also preserves thousands of rolled drawings and analytical inventory books: the “Distinte” (lists for traction equipment) and “Cartelle” (lists for rolling stock).
Access and Availability
The Archivio Storico Disegni del Servizio Materiale e Trazione is now publicly accessible through the Fondazione FS digital archive website. This addition represents a significant expansion of the foundation’s digitization efforts, making previously specialized technical documentation available to researchers, historians, and the general public interested in Italian railway history and engineering.
Frequently asked questions
What time period do the drawings cover?
The collection dates from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1970s, documenting approximately 400 different rail vehicles.
Which office created these drawings?
The drawings were produced by the Service X (established in 1905), specifically its departments for locomotive design and vehicle development, from its headquarters in Florence.
How can researchers access the collection?
The archive is publicly available online through the Fondazione FS digital archive website.
