FS Class D345

Class D345
D345 locomotive in the original livery.
Power type	Diesel
Builder	FIAT Grandi Motori, Breda, SOFER
Build date	1970-1979
Total produced	145
AAR wheel arr.	Bo-Bo
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Length	13.24 m (43 ft 5 in)
Width	3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height	4.25 m (13 ft 11 in)
Locomotive weight	62 t
Fuel type	Diesel
Transmission	Electric
Top speed	130 km/h (81 mph)
Power output	750 kW
Career	FS/Trenitalia and others
Disposition	in service

The FS Class D345 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used in Italy, introduced in the 1970s and still in service.

History

After the positive experience with class D343, in 1970 Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato, ordered further 70 diesel locomotives with some minor improvements. The FIAT engine was confirmed, while the Breda-engine was to be abandoned and a new, more reliable cooling system was fitted. The locomotives were manufactred by FIAT, Breda and SOFER, with electrical equipment provided by Magneti Marelli, TIBB and Italtrafo. The last unit was delivered in 1979.

Description

The D.345's structure is very similar to that of D343. The central compartment, housing the engine, the generator and the cooling system, is missing the baggage room, which had been never used in the previous class. The engine is a 4+4 V cylinder FIAT 218SSF with direct fuel injection, with a power output of 1,350 HP at 1500 rpm.

The electric generator is a DC one produced by Tecnomasio Italiano-Brown-Boveri (TIBB), with a power of 960 kW. The electric motors, one for each bogie, were produced by Ansaldo.

The command circuit includes electro-pneumatic switches and relays, located in a large cabin in the front cab. D345 also introduced a static regulation with field-weakening (shunting) of the traction motors, which is divided in five levels that are automatically inserted (one at time on each motor) when the throttle controller (which looks like a steering wheel and has 13 positions) is in any notch between 10 and 13.

External links

• FS D345 @ Trainspo

References

• Nascimbene, Angelo (1988). "D.345: una piccola grande diesel". Tuttotreno (Ponte San Nicolò: Duegieditrice).