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Thursday, August 21, 2014

145th Anniversary of Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway

This year marks 110 years of Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway (ISAP) operation and the 145th anniversary since the first train inaugurated the urban railway. On February 27, 1869, a steam train with six wagons and Queen Olga, Greek Prime Minister Zaimis, ministers, diplomats, military officers and other officials as passengers, started its first route from Thiseio to Piraeus. The connection between Athens and Piraeus through an urban rail became a reality and was considered a historical event. The story behind the connection of Greece ’s largest port and downtown Athens is depicted in the Electric Railway Museum which opened its doors in 2005. Manolis Fotopoulos had envisioned the creation of a museum that would show the story of Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway to the world since 1990. In 1995, he started collecting and searched for ways to make his vision a reality. Now, all his findings that were of significant historical value are part of an exhibition in the Electric Railway Station of Piraeus. Upon entering the museum, the visitor is automatically transferred to another era. They can look at the first wagons, old railway stations, old tickets and a construction model of the railway’s tunnel. One of the main attractions is an old wooden wagon, accompanied with train control machinery, objects and tools such as ticket vendors, benches, clocks and plaques.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com