Italy, Bologna. 1990/06/24. The symbol for the "Italia '90" World Cup tournament was an angular figure known as "Ciao" and this was FS's (Ferrovie dello Stato - Italian State Railways) version of it - made from bits of old rail and point levers, painted in the Italian colours and mounted on an old narrow gauge trolley! It was on display outside Bologna main station on Sunday 24th June 1990.

Italy, Rome. 1990/07/10. FS (Ferrovie dello Stato - Italian State Railways) Class ETR 450 FIAT "Pendolino" tilting high-speed train waits to depart from Roma Termini with a working to the north, possibly to Firenze (Florence), Tuesday 10th July 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 1. FS 740 Class 2-8-0 No. 740.303 is out of use in the shed yard by the turntable at Cagliari depot, Sardinia. By this time the main lines from Cagliari to Sassari and Olbia were diesel operated as were the branches, but there were a few relics from the steam age! Thursday 7th June 1990. The electric catenary only reached a few kilometres from Cagliari and was not brought into use!

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 2. Another FS 740 Class 2-8-0 dumped in the yard at Cagliari was 740.151, in company with a delightful old clerestory roofed matchboard carriage, both having seen better days! There was also another 740 2-8-0 which looked as though it might see occasional use (on specials, perhaps?), but it was uncomfortably close to the yard office so I didn't photograph it. Having taken these shots, I then went to the Railway Police office on Cagliari station to ask permission to take photographs - it was promptly refused! I was allowed to take photos around the station, however... Thursday 7th June 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 3. FS 744 Class 2-8-2 No. 744.003 is plinthed in the main station concourse at Cagliari in Sardinia. The engine was built by Breda Milano, Works No. 2174/1927. Thursday 7th June 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 1. The narrow gauge FdS (Ferrovie della Sardegna -950mm gauge) had its own terminus in Cagliari at the Piazza de Republicca, which was just a small two road affair with a sort of shop front onto the square! The passenger service was operated by Fiat Railcars - the two coach unit on the right (in the new livery) has just arrived from the north, while the single unit on the left (ADe18 in the old livery) is the 09:51 departure for Laconi, on which I travelled as far as Mandas Junction. From there the line split with a branch north to Sorgono and a branch eastwards to Arbatax. Both these lines travel through very hilly terrain with many loops and tight curves, though I did not have time to travel beyond Mandas. Monday 18th June 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 2. The FdS system's main works and depot was at Monserrato, just outside Cagliari, where there was also a small station. There were various dumped steam engines at the depot as well as several Bo-Bo diesels, one of which was in the station passing loop. It is No. LDe 600, built by Brown Boveri in 1957, seen from the passing Railcar. Monday 18th June 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 3. FdS Fiat Railcars pass at Mandas Junction station (not an architectural masterpiece, but at least it had a bar!), on the left heading for Cagliari and on the right is ADe18 with the 09:51 from Cagliari to Laconi on the Sorgono line. In the background is the loco depot where several steam engines were dumped as well as servicing of railcars. Monday 18th June 1990.

Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 4. On the narrow gauge FdS system in Sardinia, on the line from Cagliari to Arbatax and Sorgono, there was a depot at Mandas Junction. Here there were several dumped steam engines in various states of dereliction, but also this treasure! 2-6-0T No. 43 "Goito" was still in working order and used on occasional specials with vintage rolling stock. It was stabled in the stygian darkness of the shed, but the very helpful staff used one of the Fiat Railcars (ADe 04) to pull it out for me to photograph! Monday 18th June 1990. The builder's plate on the bunker bore the legend: "Impresa Industriale Italiana Di Costruzioni Metalliche Napoli Societa Svizzera No. 858 Wintherthur 1893".