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Pelion Train "The Legendary Moutzouris" |
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Pelion Train
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[Location:
Magnesia, Pelion] |
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| "The Legendary Moutzouris" |
The classic railway of Volos- Milies, the Pelion train as it is better known, was created in two stages, from 1894 to 1903.
The now legendary "Moutzouris" has connected the commercial - industrial centre of Volos with the fertile and rich area of the West Pelion, at the slopes and olive groves of the mountain of the Centaurs. |
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Till 1950, the train with the Belgian engines "Milaie", "Iason", "Pelion", "Volos", "Tsagarada" and its cars, with smaller engines also served the needs of the city as a tram for the urban communication of Volos.
For 80 years, it has been an index mark for the broader area.
After the abatement of it, in 1971, efforts were made for its reoperation as a (museum) tourist railway, in an environment of special natural beauty. After important reconstruction works of part of the infrastructure, it was again in operation in 1996. |
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| The train in a winter landscape |
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The initial construction
On December 16, 1894 the works of lining and constructing the railway line began, while on October 12 of the next year, the trail Volos- Lechonia, of length of 13 km was initiated, with an iron bridge at the torrent Anavros and the first in Greece bridge made by armored concrete at the torrent Vrychonas, outside Lechonia.
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In 1900, the extension of the railway line was decided till Milies, while in 1903 this part was ready. The trail Lechonia -Milies, of length about 16 km and a maximum 28 0/00 was a very difficult technical project, with many bridges (6 stone bridges two-arched, three-arched, four-arched, one five-arched and a metal one), retaining walls, tunnels, buttresses, aerial pedestrian bridges etc., all of them masterpieces of architecture conception and creation, perfectly harmonized to the environment, which represent the air and the style of an era, where technique was absolutely combined to sensitivity. |
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| The train traverses the unique metal bridge with a curve orbit. |
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The creator Giorgio De Chirico
Giorgio De Chirico was born in the small then city of Volos, in 1888, he had in this a happy childhood, he loved it and transfused it to his works with the form of pictorial symbolic elements, especially at his composition of the metaphysical period.
The figure for example of the small train smoking, stations, arches, water towers, factories, chimneys, rails as well as Argonauts, Centaurs etc., that we meet at his works show the multiple and important connection of this great creator with Volos, the railway history and the local mythology and tradition.
Today
Today the train, thanks to the efforts of the local society and the friends of it, after 25 years of immobility, climbs again Pelion with 25 km an hour.
 Starting from Lechonia, it ascends the grade, among the olive trees, wheezing and whistling like aforetimes and passing through the traditional dorps Ano Gatzea, Agia Triada, Agios Athanasios of Pinakates, Argyreika, it terminates at Milies.
Milies
The passengers can enjoy a dreamy view from the top of the mountain till the endless sea, can stand and photograph the unique bridges of De Chirico, the carven five-arched, the forthright metal with the curve railway, unique in Europe, while they can also visit Milies, the historical library of the Teachers of the Nation Gazis and Konstantas with the manuscripts of centuries etc.
Finally they can, if they want to, ascend the coble-stone pavements and pathways of the mountain and from Milies they can go to Vyzitsa, Pinakates, Ai-Giorgis, enjoy the old mansion houses that stand lofty at the time, worship at the churches, the temps and the many monasteries, that remain live records of an one-time era and finally return by the steam train enjoying thus another quality and dimension of life and culture, much closer to the man, the nature and the environment, that someone finds difficulty today in our standardized era. |
Aspect of the trail |
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Excursion to Milies |
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Milies Station |
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| The today's train at the station of Milies, among the excellent natural environment |
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The revolving platform, where until today the engine is placed in order to change direction |
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The gorgeous trail that the train follows starts some meters away from the Milies station |
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From another point of view the train at the wonderful station of Milies, at the end of the trail |
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INFORMATION:
Tel.: 0030.24210.28.555 |
Timetable:
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Wintertime:
11:00 from Ano Lechonia to Milies
16:00 from Milies to Ano Lechonia
Every weekend from April till October. |
Summertime:
11:00 from Ano Lechonia to Milies
16:00 from Milies to Ano Lechonia
Every day |
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INFORMATION:
Tel.: 0030.24210.28.555 |
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Exploration
