Italian designed and built ETR 200 fastest train in 1939

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ETR 220.232 electric train

The forerunners of Italian high-speed trains, these electric trains were built according to state-of-the-art criteria (aerodynamic front end, articulated cases with common trolley, special steel self-bearing chassis, air-conditioning system). In 1938 a train from the ETR family was loaded on the Rex transatlantic liner and sent to the New York International Exhibition, where it was favourably received. Used for luxury express services on the Milan-Naples line, they suffered some modifications after the war, such as the replacement of the two small front windows of the driver's compartment with a single large armoured glass, thus acquiring the “Polyphemus” nickname. In particular, in 1939, this train, which was developed from the ETR 200.212, established the world commercial record with 203.4 km/h between Pontenure and Piacenza on the Bologna-Milan line.

Quite a modern design for 1939

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http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FS_Class_ETR_200