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Virtual museum

Milan - Saronno

The origins of Ferrovie Nord Milano date back to the second half of the 19th century, against a backdrop of intense industrial and commercial activity. Although a long-standing part of Italy’s economic life, following unification this activity developed into the complex phenomenon which would later be known as the Industrial Revolution.
This period saw the rise of the first navigation companies on the Lombardy lakes; it was also a time when transport policy was approached with new fervour, leading to the development of the first inter-municipal links, by means of transport which the technology of the time allowed.

This was also the background for an initiative by A. Vaucamps, who in 1874, together with Ambrogio Campiglio, presented a plan for the construction of a railway line between Milan and Saronno, as part of the access line to the San Gottardo Railway, branching in the original plan from the Milan-Rho line.

This project was more successful than the rest: the agreement for the concession of the line was signed on 5 December 1875, and the law approving this agreement was signed by the then King, Victor Emmanuel II, on 21 May 1876.

On 22 March 1879, a day of heavy rain according to news reports of the time, the Milan-Saronno line was officially declared open. A fitting and festive crowd had gathered at the Milan station in what is now Piazza Cadorna: doing the honours were Mr and Mrs Vaucamps and engineers Campiglio and Bianchi, and the entire press was represented. An article published two days later in the newspaper “La Perseveranza” records the premiere-like atmosphere surrounding this historic opening for the present day.
 

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