Yesterday...
The Pelion's steam train, the legendary so-called "Moutzouris", marks the history of the area for nearly a century, since it constitutes an integral part of the local culture and development, with just one break in its operation of 25 years.
During the years of prosperity in Volos and Pelion, around 1890, with the impressive economic and cultural development, the railway appeared also, providing a solution to transportations throughout the area, and therefore contributing further to its development. Since 1878, the discussion regarding the necessity of the transportation’s enhancement in Pelion had begun in the Greek Parliament, for at that time the local residents were more than 60,000 and the area was characterized by an abundant production of numerous products, which remained unsold due to the absence of transportation’s appropriate infrastructure. On the coastline there was a relatively advanced network of marine transport, but the mountainous area of Pelion remained unconnected, with the exception of small paths, with other places. At the end of 1889, when the economic conditions were mature enough, the decision of the connection of Volos with the fertile regions of Central Pelion by rail was finally made.
The choice of a network of the narrow range of 60cm was based on the relatively limited tasks of transportations, via which the goods of this particular area would be transferred at the port of Volos. Additionally, due to the land’s morphology, this train line would be much easier to maneuver, it would require technical structures of a smaller scale and budget, and therefore its completion would require a shorter period of time.
The first years of the line’s operation were utterly successful and very profitable. Hence, the initial thoughts of expanding the line to the mountainous East Pelion and to Tsagarada and Zagora begun to mature. Nevertheless, the high cost was the main cause of the final decision to construct a line to Milies. The ratification of the contract for the line’s extension from Ano Lechonia to Milies was made later through the law.
The study begun in May of 1900 and the construction in July of 1901, under the general direction of the Italian railroad engineer Evaristo De Chirico, the father of the eminent painter Giorgio De Chirico, who lived in Volos. The construction of this second part of the railway of Pelion was much more difficult due to the mountainous morphology of the land, and therefore the need for even more technical works.
Apart from the existing four viaducts of 4m., seven bigger stone viaducts and a metal one were also built, as well as two tunnels. Additionally, plenty of other ancillary works were made as well as the stations in Ano Gatzea and Milies.
On July 1st., 1903 the construction was completed, after several interruptions due to the bad weather conditions during the winter of 1902-1903 as well as the reactions of the area’s residences who disagreed on the amounts of expropriation.
After the launch of the train’s operation, there appeared several problems in the section from Gatzea to Milies due to the bad weather conditions, resulting in the closure and the reconstruction of many of its parts. This section was restored and reoperated in 2/5/1904.
In the end, the exploitation of the line "Ano Lechonia-Milies" proved to be damaging, since its annual profits were less than expected. The thoughts and studies on its extension to Zagora, which was expected to cover a significant part of the transportations, were not carried out, and due to the following wars of 1910-1920 and other changes in the technical and financial situation, this prospect was given up for good.
In 1971, the dictatorial government decided the final abolition of the railway line from Volos to Milies.
Attempts of reoperation...
Fortunately, there are people in every society who promote societal interest against self-interest, respect tradition and their ancestors’ history, and fight for their beliefs. People of this quality were those who fought for the reoperation of the Pelion train, after the closure of the line. They were the so-called "friends of the train". As the years passed, the movement of the supporters of Pelion's train was becoming stronger, more organized and with more arguments.
With constant pressure and dynamic protests towards the competent authorities as well towards OSE, these people managed initially to dissuade the planned dismantling of the train line by the Prefecture, which had already started. The situation gained publicity at the national level, the friends of the train mobilized many agencies in Greece and associations of expatriates from Magnesia and Thessaly, who in the end managed to accomplish its reoperation.
On the 29th. of August 1987, in the context of the Balkan Exhibition of Handicrafts, the first reoperation of the train took place in Volos, travelling a distance of 5km. from the train station to Anavros. The event was very successful and received nationwide publicity. It was an important step for the efforts of the line’s reoperation.
After these intense efforts, and given the existing coalitions between the local agencies and OSE, that recognised in the end the high importance of the line’s maintenance and reoperation even in the part from Ano Lechonia to Milies, in 23/05/1996, i.e. exactly 25 years since its closure, Pelion’s train headed by the locomotive and with its wagons crowded, ascended the mountain’s slopes in trial routes, while the official reopening took place on the 25th. of May 1996.
Nowadays...
Pelion’s train nowadays operates from spring to autumn, under a specific release schedule of one daily route in the mountainous area. The total travel time is 1 hour and 30 minutes (including parking of 15 minutes for coffee, tsipuro and refreshments in the picturesque station of Ano Gazea).
The railway station of Ano Lechonia, which is 12km. far from Volos, is accessible via the road to Kala Nera, by bus with the line Volos-Lechonia-Platanidia, which stops 50 m. from the station. The railway station is also accessibly by car, and there is an ample parking area in front of it. There are brown signs of the station from the adjacent road.
The access road of the stasion of Milies is possible by car only and there is a limited parking space in the area. Brown signs lead to the station from the Milies’ road.
Despite the fact that the winter tourism of Pelion is also developed, and through the operation of this traditional train could be developed further, the train does not operate during the winter. Its operation starts in April and stops in early October. In order one to travel by traditional locomotives, they should contact OSE and make a special lease.
Timetables-Prices
The train departs from Ano Lechonia at 10:00 am. and from Milies at 15:00, with a stop of 15’ in Ano Gazea, in both directions. Tickets’ prices are 18€ for adults and 10€ for children for a return journey and 10€ and 6€ for single journeys, respectively.
The train is available for rent throughout the year. Further information for tickets, timetables, and train’s renting are provided in the Travel Office of Volos TRAINOSE (tel. & fax: +30 24210 39723).
References:
Zartaloudis, G, Kutelidis, D., et al. (eds.), (1996). The Greek Railways.Their life course since 1869 until today. Athens: Militos Publ.
Nathenas, G. & Karathanou, M., (2004). The train of Pelion. From the city of Argonauts to the mountain of Centaurs. Athens: Militos Publ.
