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The little train
A little train’s fascinating story and the mythical tales of Mt. Pelion, all combined in a single magical ride!
The little train of Pelion is leaving the station
10 o’clock at the Ano Lehonia Railway Station. The little train’s whistle signals the beginning of an unforgettable trip. The ascent on the beautiful slopes of Mt. Pelion has begun, History is about to unfold...
This 60cm gauge line, one of the narrowest in the world, is home to the loco and the 4 cars of “Moutzouris”, a common Greek nickname reserved for someone who turns things black, an obvious choice in the days of steam.
The terrain between Ano Lehonia and Milies is mountainous, filled with lush vegetation, mainly consisting of plane trees, olives and pine trees.
The altitude gained allows for a spectacular view over Pagasitikos bay. Add to this the fact that the little train’s maximum speed is but a mere 20km/h and one can see why spectacular vistas over gorges, magnificent old bridges and tunnels are the order of the day, thus putting together all the jigsaw bits of this scenic route.
The train’s only intermediate stop is at the Ano Gatzea station from which it toils on to Milies and towards the completion of this 15km run in a total of about 90 minutes.
Up until Milies, the route is filled with natural beauty and features numerous architectural landmarks, especially constructions from carved stone and grey limestone that form arched bridges, tunnel entries and retaining walls, an exquisite sample of which is the five-arched stone bridge of Kalorema, in the area of Malaki.
On the final approach towards Milies, the scenery becomes more extreme, with the crossing of the steel bridge of Taxiarhis, also known as “De Chirico’s Bridge” being the highlight of this last section. Here, some pretty unique engineering is at work. This is a rare occasion where a train crosses a bridge that is straight, but the tracks that lie on it are actually curved!
At the end of the route, lies Milies station. Traditional guesthouses and taverns await the visitors, while a cobbled stone footpath takes you up the village’s main square (about 15m). Here one can marvel at the church of Taxiarhes, which had been constructed before 1741 and the library which is one of the oldest in Greece or visit the museum of folk art. The next opportunity to admire the most scenic railway line in Greece is at 15:00 when the little train will start its descent towards Ano Lehonia.
The train normally operates from spring till autumn. During this period one cyclical trip is made in the mountainous part of the line, which is the only segment currently in operation. The running time is 1h 30m (including a 15m stop at the scenic station of Ano Gatzea, where coffee, local “tsipouro” and refreshments are available.
Access to Ano Lehonia Railway Station
The station is situated 6km away from Villa Amanti. You can easily access the station by car as there is sufficient parking space right in front of the station building. Signposts of brown color, clearly showing the direction in which the station lies can also be found on the main road.
Access to Milies Railway Station
The station is situated 13km away from Villa Amanti. The station can be accessed by car and has limited parking space available. Signposts of brown color, clearly showing the direction in which the station lies can be found on the main road towards Milies.
Itinerary & Pricing
The departure time from Ano Lehonia is 10:00 (outbound). From Milies the train departs at 15:00 (inbound). On both legs, a 15m stop is made at Ano Gatzea.
Return tickets cost 18 euros for adults and 10 euros for children, while one-way tickets cost 10 and 6 euro respectively.
The train is up for rental all year round, at special prices.
For info about train rental, tickets and travel schedule, please address to TRAINOSE Travel Office at Volos, by phone/fax at 24210 39723, e-mail at grafeio.volou@trainose.gr, as well as by calling 14511, which operates on a 24-hour basis.