The Elettromotrice AB 03, also known as the Carminati & Toselli AB-03, played a fascinating yet brief role in the history of the Rimini-San Marino International Electric Railway.
Inaugurated just four years after construction began on June 12, 1932, this railway was a marvel of civil engineering at the time. Its route started from Rimini FS and included both long straight stretches (across the flat 12 km Italian section) and steep climbs up the rocky slopes of Mount Titano.
The journey from Rimini’s sandy beach to San Marino’s 750-meter elevation took just 53 minutes, making it an efficient and fast means of travel.
However, World War II transformed the train from a pleasure ride to a lifeline for Italian refugees seeking safety in the neutral Republic of San Marino. The railway was damaged during bombings, leaving only one functioning electric motorcar, the AB 04, to serve the remaining desperate passengers.
The AB 03, along with other electric motorcars, had been isolated due to the war. Despite its challenges, this railway remains a poignant chapter in transportation history, connecting Rimini to San Marino’s historic center.
Unfortunately, the railway was eventually closed, and the AB 03 met its end.