Codigoro
A journey on the Ferrara-Codigoro Railway
Hello friends! Today I want to talk to you about the Ferrara-Codigoro railway, a regional line operated by Ferrovie Emilia Romagna (FER). The railway connects Ferrara to Codigoro and has a long history, starting as a tramway back in 1901.
History
The Ferrara-Codigoro Tramway, with a gauge of 950mm, was built and operated by the Società Anonima delle Tramvie Ferraresi in 1901. In 1907, the company changed its name to Società Anonima delle Ferrovie e Tramvie Padane (FTP) and in 1926 applied to convert the line to a standard gauge railway. The railway concession was granted in 1926 and the new railway line was inaugurated in 1931, measuring 52.187km and equipped with rails weighing 27.3kg/m.
Rolling Stock
The rolling stock used in the early years partly came from the Fano-Urbino railway, also operated by the FTP, and partly hired from the State Railways. In 1933, the Genoese company Attilio Bagnara completed the supply of wagons and carriages: the rolling stock fleet thus included 4 steam locomotives with 350 horsepower, 14 passenger cars and about a hundred freight cars.
Operation
On May 30, 1933, the FTP ceased operations on the line due to bankruptcy. The rail concession and operation were taken over on June 6, 1933 by the Ferrovie Padane (GGFP). The GGFP renewed the installations and expanded the depot and workshop at Ferrara Porta Reno Station. It also closed all the level crossings along the line, improved the curvature and elevation of the parabolic connections and marked them with stakes, to ensure the preservation of the track.
Innovation
The GGFP renewed the rolling stock by introducing diesel-powered locomotives starting in 1939. Steam traction remained reserved for the transport of goods and for some particularly crowded passenger trains. To accommodate the "Littorine" railcars, a new garage and workshop were built at Ferrara Porta Reno and the garage in Codigoro was expanded.
Conclusions
Ferrovie Emilia Romagna inherited the management of the Ferrara-Codigoro Railway in 2002 from Ferrovie Padane, continuing to provide professional and safe railway service on the regional line that connects Ferrara to Codigoro. If you want to discover the beauty of the landscapes you can admire along the Ferrara-Codigoro line, board an FER train and enjoy the journey!
