Did you know that a steam-powered tram once connected Melegnano and Sant’Angelo Lodigiano? This is the story of the Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo. It was a vital transport link in its day.
The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo Lodigiano was an interurban line. It branched from the Milano-Lodi line in Melegnano. It then headed towards Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. The tramway ran parallel to the Lambro river.
Imagine the year is 1881. The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo begins its service. The brainchild of Ferdinando Pistorius from Stuttgart. He already managed other lines in the Lodi area.
Local municipalities joined forces to improve the road. Cerro al Lambro and Casaletto Lodigiano were involved. Salerano sul Lambro was too. Also Caselle Lurani and Marudo. This consortium upgraded the road to provincial status. This allowed for the laying of tram tracks.
Picture steam trams chugging along the 15-kilometer route. The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo started at Melegnano station. This station was next to the Milano-Lodi tramway. The route turned onto Via XX Settembre. It is now Via Conciliazione. It then went along Viale Predabissi. The tram passed the castle moat.
A section ran on its own track. Later this was used for Via Giardino. A wide curve took the tram under the Milano-Bologna railway. The underpass still exists today. The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo then reached Riozzo. It joined the provincial road there. It followed the road to Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. The final station was on Via Cavour.
The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo boosted the local economy. It carried significant freight. This was mainly from quarries along the Lambro. Passenger traffic was less intense.
From 1883 the TIP took over. That is Tramways a Vapore Interprovinciali. It was of Milan, Bergamo and Cremona. The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo was an important part of the TIP network.
But the Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo faced challenges. The line gradually deteriorated. Buses provided competition. Investment could no longer be justified.
On May 15, 1931 the Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo ceased operations. After about 50 years of service.
One interesting detail is that the TIP used a railcar. This was on the Melegnano to Sant’Angelo section. It was to save costs from 1927. The Crochar railcar had an internal combustion engine.
Today little remains of the Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo. It once played a crucial role in local transport. The Tranvia Melegnano-Sant’Angelo is now a memory. A reminder of a bygone era. But its story lives on.