The National Ironworks of Savigliano on the Mediterranean rim

Founded in 1880, the Società Nazionale Officine Savigliano (National Ironworks of Savigliano, hereafter referred to as SNOS) began doing business outside Italy almost immediately: in 1883, it was awarded the contract for designing and building coaches for the Orient Express railway. The following year, it began supplying the Belgian Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. The Belgian company, which owned a stake in SNOS, was headquartered in Braine-le-Comte and manufactured railway equipmen...