L’elettromotrice AB-03

Slipping through time, imagine the year 1932. A sleek, white and azure train, L’elettromotrice AB-03, glides along the tracks, a symbol of progress connecting Rimini to the heart of San Marino. L’elettromotrice AB-03 wasn’t just a train; it was a lifeline, a dream woven into reality. This electric marvel, powered by 3000 volts, was a stark contrast to the steam engines chugging along in Rimini. It navigated 32 kilometers of winding tracks, traversing 17 tunnels and eight bridges, a testament to engineering ingenuity. The journey on L’elettromotrice AB-03 was a luxurious affair, with plush, padded seats even in third class. The trip between Italy and the world’s oldest republic took just under an hour, a significant improvement from the three-hour trek by horse-drawn carriage. L’elettromotrice AB-03’s story, however, is bittersweet. Its maiden voyage took place during a time of rising Futurism, a movement that celebrated speed, dynamism, and the very essence of the train. The train became a symbol of San Marino’s connection to the modern world, its link to Italy. Its existence was thanks to a pact between Benito Mussolini and San Marino’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Giuliano Gozi. The agreement: San Marino would allow Italy to operate a radio station within its borders for ten years, and in return, Italy would fund the construction of the railway. The grand opening of the Rimini-San Marino railway on June 12, 1932, was a momentous occasion, a celebration of progress and modernity. But the dream was short-lived. The Second World War cast a long shadow, and on June 26, 1944, Allied bombers mistakenly targeted San Marino, damaging the railway line and tragically ending 63 lives. L’elettromotrice AB-03, miraculously spared, made its final journey on July 11, 1944, carrying railway personnel and salvaged materials to safety within San Marino’s borders. The white and azure train became a silent witness to history, sheltering refugees within its tunnels during the Battles of Rimini and San Marino. For decades, L’elettromotrice AB-03 languished, a victim of time and neglect. But the story doesn’t end there. In 2012, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the San Marino State Secretariat and the Treno Bianco Azzurro Association, L’elettromotrice AB-03 was reborn. Painstakingly restored, it now stands as a symbol of resilience, a reminder of a dream that once connected two nations.