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Transportation
Diakofto-Kalavrita
History
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According to the initial plan the line, after Kalavrita {Καλάβρυτα}, would continue to the highlands of Peloponnese {Πελοπόννησος}, and from there it would reach Tripolis {Τρίπολις} and join the Corinth {Κόρινθος} line.
The budget for the construction of the {Διακοφτό} Diakofto-Kalavrita 13.7 miles long section was €4,402.05c and the estimated completion time was 10 months. However, it took 5 years and the cost reached €14,673.51c, an astronomical amount for that time. Thus, although the project terminated at Kalavrita it proved innovative and resilient.
The line passes through the Vouraikos {Βουραϊκός} gorge and it covers an elevation range of 2,362.2 feet in 13.7 miles. Therefore a solution should be found as at certain points the gradient of the line was higher than 3.5%, a limit for conventional trains. In effect, there are certain points in the line where the gradient reaches 17.5% (that is to say in 100 feet of distance the gradient increases to 17.5 feet). At these sections, the line was supported by a third cog rail, which was placed between the conventional rails, for a distance of 2.2 miles. The cog rail provides auxilliary grip, so that the train may not lose control and roll backwards.
The cog railway technology had been developed during the first years of the railway, as, in many parts of the world, trains were the solution to the transportation of people and goods to almost inaccessible regions.
The cog railway of Kalavrita was constucted by French engineers, who supervised Greeks, Italians as well as workers from Montenegro. The railway pierced the mountain and had to run next to gorges and waterfalls. Thus one can easily understand the difficulties it posed to the workers. On top of this they had to defend themselves against bandits who wandered in the region. As a result the company had to engage armed guards for their protection.
The runs began in March 1896, powered by French steam engines (Cail), which were always positioned on the side of the descent. The steam train held sway until 1959, whereupon the diesel motorails made their appearance. There had even been discussions about electrifying the line, notably with power generated from the waters of the Vouraikos gorge.
The initial time was 2.5 hours, but today it is 85 minutes.
Source: Eleftherotipia
{Ελευθεροτυπία} Newspaper. Featured Article: The History Of
The Railway, Saturday, July 3rd, 1999.
11-30-2003