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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-08-14
CONTENTS
[01] Famous little engine to make rare night run on August 19
[01] Famous little engine to make rare night run on August 19
ANA-MPA -- The picturesque train of Mt. Pelion in central Greece will
make a return-route night run on August 19, to celebrate the 110th
anniversary of the railroad line connecting the towns of Lechonia
and Milies.
The train will carry a maximum of 120 passengers from Lechonia
at 6:00 p.m. to Milies to attend a concert by the local cultural
society. Aroung midnight, the train, affectionately known as Moutzouris
("the coal-smudger"), will ride the 15.2 km distance back to Lechonia.
"It will be a unique night-ride," a local official told ANA-MPA. "Our
purpose is to celebrate the 110th anniversary and promote the train. Lucky
passengers will get a half-priced ticket, for a total of 5 euros, for
both the ride and the concert at Milies."
The train was inaugurated in 1903 to connect Volos, a port city, with
villages on Mt. Pelion. The railway line project was supervised by
Evaristo de Chirico, father of the surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico,
who used Italian and Mt. Pelion workers to construct a train line renowned
for its beautiful design, unique technical features, and respect of the
environment. One of the bridges the train crosses is named after him.
The train stopped running in 1971 and was restored to operation in
1996 by the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE). It now runs mostly
on weekends for tourists, from spring to autumn. More information is
available on www.trainose.gr
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