A wooden leg. That is what “Gamba de Legn” means in Lombard dialect. It was the nickname for Milan’s early steam trams. These trams connected Milan to the surrounding towns between the late 1800s and early 1900s.
But why this curious name “Gamba de Legn”? The exact origin is uncertain. One theory suggests it came from the tram’s shaky ride. It seemed to limp like someone with a wooden leg. The “To-Toc To-Toc” sound reinforced this image. Another story tells of a tram worker named Romildo. He had a wooden leg after an accident. His job was to warn people of the tram’s arrival in foggy conditions. Another version says people who jumped on the train while in motion would fall and have a leg amputated. So they got a “Gamba de Legn”.
The first routes served by the Gamba de Legn were the Milano-Vaprio in 1878. Also the Milano-Saronno-Tradate line which initially used animal traction. Steam replaced the animals later that same year. The Milano-Magenta/Castano Primo line opened between 1879 and 1880. Soon, the system spread across Lombardy and Italy.
By the late 19th century over 150 Gamba de Legn trams connected Milan to nearby towns. For decades they were a symbol of the Milanese province. This was until electric trams and buses appeared. Locals also called it “Sgich” or “Sgiccherlìn”. These names mimic the sound of something wobbling along.
The last steam tram in Milan was the Milano-Magenta/Castano Primo. It was shortened to Milano-Vittuone. Its final run was August 31 1957. The Monza–Trezzo–Bergamo line was the last of all. It closed on June 28 1958.
Today you can see a Gamba de Legn locomotive at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Milan. It was made by the German company Henschel. Another locomotive from the same museum is in Settimo Milanese. It stands roughly where the “Cascine Olona” stop used to be. This was a stop on one of the Gamba de Legn lines.
These “wooden leg” trams were more than just transportation. They represent a vital link to Milan’s past. They evoke a time when steam power connected communities. The Gamba de Legn reminds us of a slower. It was a more intimate way of life in the bustling region of Lombardy.