Diakofto-Kalavryta railway

Norsk utgave (Norwegian edition)

This is the original steam engine from the 1890s

Resume from day 9 (Saturday, April 22 2000)

We continued now further north, and spent the night in a tiny place along the road before we next day continued on to Diakofto. Diakofto is situated on the main road between Patra and Korintos, 50 km east of Patra. Here an old railway stretches up to Zachlorou and Kalavryta. The tracks were build by Italian engineers between 1885 and 1895. It was considered a piece of art within engineering when it had an elevation on more than 700 meters in a distance of 22.5 km. The original steam engine that was in traffic for many, many years is now on display at the station in Diakofto. It was replaced several years ago with a diesel engine. Be early if you want tickets, because only two small cars are in service and the train only takes 4 or 5 trips every day. Fortunately did we manage to get on board at 4:48pm even though, we had been at the station to buy our tickets around 12:30.

This is how today's cars look like, this train has been in service since the early 1960s. It consists of two passenger's cars, and a tiny, noisy diesel engine placed in the middle.

Resume from day 9 (Saturday, April 22 2000) continue

Vi just got in time to go to the Cave of the Lakes, which is situated about 60 km south of Diakofto, way up in the mountains. The drive on the narrow and rocky roads was worth the hassle, the cave was impressive. The height and length was very impressive. The cave is supposed to be 2km long, but only 300 meters has been made available for visitors. This year more than 500 meters has been made available. Walking paths must be made, because the cave contains water, and the paths has been made so we can have this spectacular view of the ponds and lakes, they are really unique. During spring when the snow melts on the surrounding mountains, some of the melting water creates a small river inside of the cave and the water runs from pond to pond. Unfortunately had the snow already melted this year, but we could see that many of the ponds were full of water, and that some water still came into the cave. The deepest pond was more than 5.5 m deep. There weren't too many stalactites in this cave, but those who where there were fabulous.

All the way to the bottom of this valley (Vouraikos gorge) is it the tracks that stretches along the hillside. This photo is from were the valley gets broader, it is much narrower closer to the coast.

Resume from day 9 (Saturday, April 22 2000) continue

Back in Diakofto again, we would take the train with a return ticket to and from Kalavryta. This is also a spectacular ride up the narrow, but very green valley of Vouraikos gorge. We would soon experience that we were on an old train - maximum speed was 30 km/h, and it was shaking like crazy. It didn't improve when we came to those parts of the valley that was so steep that the train could hardly move. The train would have started spinning, but instead they lower a toothed wheel on some part of the track, which pulls us up, and last but not least brakes on going down. The tracks curve and cross down the valley and over the river that flows through the valley. It is very impressive to see how they have managed to build this railway. There are quite a few tunnels through the valley as well. The environment is very green, and spectacular and steep mountain raises up on both sides. What would really be fun would do like many did, to take the train only two stops and then walk down again. That would be a fantastic hike.

 

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Actually did we se on the bare walls of the mountains; stalactites. Not so many, but it was anyway the first time we had seen them outdoors in Greece. We had only seen them in caves on previous occasions.

Here I am on the train. There are two different classes on the train, the price difference is minimal. We had read through several guidebooks that one should go for 1^st class, and so we did. The difference in quality wasn't big, part from the seats being slightly broader and was covered in velour in stead of leather imitations. But the view was quite different. When the train headed downhill you sit in the front, and you have a fantastic view of the trails and the scenic environment. Absolutely worth it!