The train reaches San Nicola Silvana Mansio, officially the highest station in Italy's public rail network.
The locomotive used for the heritage service is a steam engine built in 1926 by the Ansaldo company.
The railway track gauge measures 950mm, known as the 'Italian metric gauge,' common in early 20th-century mountain transport.
The route passes through a protected area of Sila National Park known for the ancient Sila pine, Pinus nigra laricio.
The service uses carriages restored to their original 1930s-era interior aesthetic.
The Train of Sila is a restored historic narrow-gauge railway operating in the Sila National Park in Calabria, Italy. It features a steam locomotive dating back to the 1920s that hauls vintage passenger carriages through mountainous forest landscapes. The line connects Camigliatello Silano to San Nicola Silvana Mansio, which holds the title of the highest railway station in the Italian national network at 1,405 meters above sea level. This heritage line serves as a functional museum, maintaining 19th-century railway technology and signaling practices. The route traverses the plateau's dense pine forests and rural pastures, offering a rare look at the Sila's alpine ecosystem. The project is managed by Fondazione FS Italiane, which preserves the rolling stock and the regional rail infrastructure. Tours include stops at key scenic points along the Apennine range.
The platform at San Nicola Silvana Mansio when the steam engine is stationary and venting during the water-stop maneuver.
Bring a light jacket as temperatures at the high-altitude stations can be significantly cooler than the surrounding valleys.
Secure your tickets well in advance online, as the heritage steam service has limited capacity and sells out during peak periods.
Prepare for cinders or soot from the steam engine if sitting in open-air sections or near windows.
Do not wait until the day of travel to purchase tickets, as the train is a popular seasonal attraction and operates on a limited schedule.
Operates primarily on weekends and selected public holidays; services are heavily concentrated in the summer months and occasionally during the winter snow season.
Wear comfortable, non-slip footwear for moving between cars and boarding on gravel ballast.
