LE Models 21273 – Steam Loco Gr.851, FS, DC

Limited, numbered edition of 550 pieces.
Perfect 1:87 scale reproduction of the steam locomotive 851.004 of the FS (former Rete Adriatica), constructor “Costruzioni Meccaniche di Saronno”, as it was during era III (‘50s). Black livery with red/brown chassis, big oil lamps, white wheels’ border, raised rear markings on red background, original chimney with rounded base.

Chassis in high precision and high quality moulding, correctly differentiated in details and decoration to accurately reproduce all the features of the different versions of the locomotives. Frame, footboard and boiler in die-cast metal, cabin and water tanks in plastic. Wheels centres in Kevlar with realistic thin spokes, wheels and counter-weights correctly differentiated between the axles. Reproduction of the coupling entirely die-cast or etched and functioning. The boiler is rich in many applied details with several turned or etched metal parts. The cabin interior has been fully reproduced, with levers and instruments as separate parts. The etched metal cabin closure chain is reproduced to exact scale. Model with partially mounted detail, additional parts included in the box.
NEM 660/21MTC plug for 21-poles DCC decoders
White LEDs with inversion according to the running direction, switch for “shunting mode” lights with both front and rear lamps always on. Rear lamps can be removed and replaced by lamp supports.
5-poles motor with flywheel, transmission on central axle by gears, movement of other axles by rods. Two wheels with traction tyre.
All other details comply with the historical setting: rear cabin wall with rivets, reduced side visors of the cabin, modern buffers, original front coal box, additional coal boxes inside the cabin, original whistle on cabin roof, partially obscured rear windows, black handles under the buffers, “non-drinkable water” inscriptions on the sides of the water tanks.

During the overhauls or repairs, in order to underline possible presence of cracks or defects on the wheels’ rims, these were painted with white lead painting that made it easier to check their state easier. After passing the check, the machines were delivered back to the service still with the wheels with white border. In the ‘50s, the 851.004 showed the modification on the rear of the cabin with the partial removal of the side visors, but it still carried some typical characteristics of the original state in which it was delivered to Rete Adriatica in 1904, such as the old type of chimney with a rounded base and the whistle over the cabin’s roof.

The FS Group 851 steam locomotives were commissioned at the end of the XIX century as Group 270 for the Rete Adriatica (RA), responding to a need for a versatile train locomotive designated as a reinforcement on passing lines, with good power, adequate speed and sufficient on-board autonomy to avoid the use of a tender. The result was a 3-axis coupled machine (wheel arrangement C), large 1510mm diameter wheels that allowed a maximum permissible speed of 60 km/h, an external 2 cylinder engine with Walschaerts distribution that generated 400HP and an axle weight limited to 14.5 tons/axle, to allow it to be used on lighter tracks. They were built under the auspices of the RA starting in 1898. The first batch of 32 units was built by Breda initially with a cabin open on the rear side (which was subsequently closed). They were then incorporated as part of the 851 Group in 1905 under the management of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and replicated in several batches. A total of 207 units were built by a number of builders such as Ansaldo, Maffei, OM Milano, Costruzioni Meccaniche Saronno and OM Napoli until 1911, to which a further 10 units were added which had been built for private Benevento-Cancello (6 units) and Ferrovia Siena-Buonconvento (4 units) railway lines.

The 270 RA/Gr. 851 FS were immediately used on the services for which they had been designed; the demanding Sulmona-Isernia and Rocchetta San Antonio-Potenza lines with inclines up to 28% and also on many of the services between Lazio and the Abruzzi where they performed exceptionally well until the arrival of the more powerful Gr. 940 locomotives, from 1922. The Gr. 851 were an immediate success, largely due to their features and shunting facilities becoming a regular and familiar presence at many Italian mainline stations predominantly in the Central-Southern regions of Italy. Over the course of their long service history, the Gr. 851 were modified and the subject of experiments with the addition of hand-constructed increased capacity coal boxes, the adoption of mixed combustion fuel oil/coal on 27 units between 1946 and 1957 as well as the installation of electric lights and their related batteries. Some locomotives were still used for regular services, the last of which being used on the Rovigo-Chioggia line right up to the 1960s.The Gr. 851 were withdrawn from regular service by the end of the 1960s. None of the locomotives have been preserved in working order, however several have been restored as monuments in several Italian locations. The 851.110 locomotive is currently preserved and exhibited in the Fondazione FS in the Pietrarsa Museum.