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Daikofto to Kalavryta railway

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Europe » Greece
October 18th 2014
Published: October 20th 2014
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The train arrives to pick up the excited passengersThe train arrives to pick up the excited passengersThe train arrives to pick up the excited passengers
18 October 2014

We were up early to catch the 08.45 train. The Daikofto to Kalavryta narrow gauge rack and pinion railway was designed by French engineers, built by a mix of Italian and Greek labour and opened in 1895. It climbs 700m in 22.5k between the steep sides of the Vouraikos Gorge passing through tunnels, crossing bridges, screeching around impossibly tight bends and at times clinging to a ledge above the tumbling river. It gave us a memorable hour’s ride.

On 13 December 1943 the occupying German army set fire to Kalavryta and massacred nearly all the male inhabitants (498 people) in reprisal for the execution of some of their own troops by the resistance fighters. We visited the museum in the old schoolhouse which records this event and the memorial on the hillside above where the atrocity took place. It was a moving experience. We arrived back in Daikofto it time for lunch in the local taverna sitting in the shade of some large trees. Then returned to our idyllic seaside camping spot which was a fitting place to spend our last night in Greece on this trip.

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Roger and Wendy
Mobile Geriatrics
Mobile Geriatrics
Our motorhome travels. Press on the appropriate heading on the bottom right to look at the trip you are interested in. From August 2018 we have used a new Mobile Geriatrics site for our blog. The link is here ... full info
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Gorge sides and railway ledge above the riverGorge sides and railway ledge above the river
Gorge sides and railway ledge above the river
A narrow side gorgeA narrow side gorge
A narrow side gorge
The cobbles in the main street of Vouraikos include a representation of the railway linesThe cobbles in the main street of Vouraikos include a representation of the railway lines
The cobbles in the main street of Vouraikos include a representation of the railway lines
The memorial to the 1943 atrocityThe memorial to the 1943 atrocity
The memorial to the 1943 atrocity
This statue records the fact that the women of the town were left by the Germans to bury the deadThis statue records the fact that the women of the town were left by the Germans to bury the dead
This statue records the fact that the women of the town were left by the Germans to bury the dead
The railway is also part of a long distance footpath and on the way down we saw several walkers who had to jump out of the way on the narrow sectionsThe railway is also part of a long distance footpath and on the way down we saw several walkers who had to jump out of the way on the narrow sections
The railway is also part of a long distance footpath and on the way down we saw several walkers who had to jump out of the way on the narrow sections
Under overhangs, around bends and through tunnelsUnder overhangs, around bends and through tunnels
Under overhangs, around bends and through tunnels
This steam engine was used when the railway was first openedThis steam engine was used when the railway was first opened
This steam engine was used when the railway was first opened
Today and on other occasions we have been taken into the kitchen of the restaurant to choose our foodToday and on other occasions we have been taken into the kitchen of the restaurant to choose our food
Today and on other occasions we have been taken into the kitchen of the restaurant to choose our food


Travel Blog » Europe » Greece » Blogs » Daikofto to Kalavryta railway
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