The Little Train in Pelion - Το Τρενάκι του Πηλιού
Little Train of Pelion
The Pelion miniature railway was a dynamic element of cultural development during the first half of the twentieth century and it greatly influenced the history and environment of Pelion and Magnesia in general.
For 76 years (1895-1971), people and goods traveled on the train, considerably changing the economical and cultural status of the city of Volos and the region as a whole. Inspirational designer and builder of the Pelion railway, under the management of Thessalian Railways, was the Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico, father of the great artist Giorgio de Chirico.
Using both his knowledge and a great deal of imagination, Evaristo de Chirico designed and, with the help of local craftsmen, constructed one of the most beautiful railway lines in the world. Only 60 cm wide, climbing the slopes of Pelion, mountain of the Centaurs, passing olive groves, deep gullies and gorges, it is a work of art, admired for its sensitivity, morphological harmony and structural perfection.
The Construction
Construction of this railway line began in December 1894 and one year later, on October 12th, the first section, Volos - Lehonia, covering a distance of 13 km, was officially opened. Also completed were the bridge in Anavros and the one spanning Vrihona River, not for from Lehonia, which was the first to be built with fortified cement.
In 1900 the railway line was extended up to Milies and by 1903 this section had been completed.The line from Lehonia to Milies is 16 km long, with28/1000 being the sharpest inclining slope. Technically, the work was extremely difficult because of the many bridges (6 stone bridges with two, three, four and five arches and one Iron Bridge), protective walls, tunnels, aerial pedestrian bridges, all masterpieces of engineering, representing the aesthetic power of the period, when engineering was sensitive to and in perfect harmony with the environment.
Giorgio de Chirico
Giorgio de Chirico was born in the then small town of Volos in 1888 and spent a happy childhood there. His love for his birthplace inspired many conjectural symbolic elements in his painting, particularly in the themes of his metaphysical period. For example, the images of the smudgy little train, the railway stations, the arches, the water towers, the factories, the chimneys, the rails and also Argonauts and Centaurs etc, illustrate the many emotional ties this great artist had with Volos, with both the history of the railway and local mythology and tradition.
Until 1971The train, with its Belgian engines topically named Milies, Iason, Pelion, Volos, Tsagarada, also served the city's needs as a tram, being the only means of public transport during that period. Thus it was bound together with all the great historical moments of this county and came to be loved by everyone. Gradually, however, it was outmoded by the motor car until finally in June 1971, it was abandoned altogether as being uneconomical to run.
The journey Today, and after 25 years of silence, the little train puffs up Pelion Mountain once more at 25 km per hour, thanks to the strenuous efforts of its friends.
At present, it departs from Ano Lehonia (soon the departure point will be Volos itself), climbing the mountain along a dreamlike route through olive groves, and passing the traditional settlements of Ano Gatzea, Agia Triada, Agios Athanassios, Pinakates and Argireika on the way, whistle blowing, until it reaches its final destination at Milies. The passengers are able to enjoy the fantastic view of the sea from the peak of the mountain, and as they travel they can take photographs of the magnificent bridges of De Chirico; the five-arched bridge, or the sturdy iron bridge, unique in Europe.
On reaching the end of the journey, they can also visit the historical library in Milies where they can examine the manuscripts of Anthimos Gazis, Konstanda and others. Finally, the visitors may like to walk up the narrow cobble streets and mountain paths form Milies to Vizitsa, Pinakates or Agios Georgios.They can admire the traditional noblemen's mansions withstanding the passage of time, or visit the old churches and chapels, which, together with the many monasteries are testament to a different era.
In this way, they may then return on the little steam train, having gained an insight into a different quality of life, closer to nature and so much more humane than one may find today.