At the end of the 1970s, the S.N.F.T. launched a further modernisation programme which, over a period of just under 15 years from 1980 to 1994, allowed 17 diesel railcars and 3 brand-new locomotives to be put into service on the public network, as well as some other stock bought second-hand or hired for periods of varying lengths. The first rolling stock in this new modernisation plan were the ALn668 type diesel railcars produced by FIAT which were also being supplied to the Ferrovie dello Stato. The first two units, of the same type as the F.S. class 1000, numbered 121 and 122, arrived in Iseo at the end of 1979 and officially entered service on 18 February of the following year. Not long after, on the basis of the excellent service results, another four diesel railcars were ordered, this time from the class 3100 being built at the time, numbered from 123 to 126, which were delivered in 1983. This new batch made it possible to finally retire the last of the first generation diesel railcars (An64) still in service after over 33 years with S.N.F.T. and almost 50 years overall.
ALn 668 Fiat third generation diesel railcars
- Costruttore: FIAT - O.ME.CA
- Esercizio regolare: 1980/2019 (ALn668.121 in corso di restauro)
- Larghezza: 2.878 mm
- Massa in servizio: 37.300 kg
- Rodiggio UIC: 1 A – A 1
- Cerchioni a nuovo Ø: 920 mm
- Costruzione: 1979
- Velocità massima: 95 Km/h
- Passo carrelli: 2.450 mm
- Numero motori: 2
- Numero posti a sedere: 68
- Costruttore motori: FIAT
- Lunghezza fuori tutto: 23.540 mm
- Traino rimorchi: sì
- Distanza perni carrelli: 15.940 mm
- Potenza totale: 350 kW
- Alimentazione: Gasolio
- Builder: FIAT - O.ME.CA
- Regular service date: 1980/2019 (ALn668.121 undergoing restoration)
- Width: 2,878 mm
- Service mass: 37,300 kg
- UIC wheel arrangement: 1 A – A 1
- Rim diameter when new: 920 mm
- Build date: 1979
- Maximum speed: 95 Km/h
- Bogie wheelbase: 2,450 mm
- Engines: 2
- Passenger capacity: 68 seats
- Engine builder: FIAT
- Overall length: 23,540 mm
- Trailer towing: yes
- Distance between bogie pivots: 15,940 mm
- Overall power: 350 kW
- Fuel: Diesel
The ALn668.121-126 units, with the sole exception of the 123 scrapped in 1997 following an accident, were in service until 2016 and the two longest serving (122 and 126) until 2019. Over the course of their working life of just under forty years, these units were given 5 different liveries. In 2009, the Aln668.121 was restored to its original livery and is currently undergoing restoration for historical/functional use. In the mid-1980s, in response to the increase in traffic, the S.N.F.T. ordered two new diesel railcars from FIAT of the Aln663 type, as production of the Aln668 had ceased.
In 1987 the first two units arrived (131 and 132), followed in 1991 by a third (133) and in 1994 by another eight (141-148). These units were still classified as ALn668 (and not ALn663 as at F.S.) because they were not equipped with a conductor’s cabin and as a result had 68 seats.
