Winter steam-hauled excursion to Siena

ITALIAN state railway heritage foundation FS Italiane Foundation operated its ‘Treno Natura’ (Nature Train) from Grossetto to Siena on December 5. Formed of 1930s-built Centoporte coaches, the excursion used the line from Monte Antico to Asciano, which now only sees occasional special trains, hauled by 2-6-0 loco No. 640.003 (Schwartzkopff,

Berlin 3835/1907), a design that eventually numbered 173 locos built between 1907 and 1930. The train is seen at Sant’AngeloCinigiano, north of Asciano.