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(Greece, Central Greece, Sterea Ellada, Fthiotida, Bralos)
ALCO - American Locomotive Company - DL-500 ALCO's "World Locomotive" operated from 1962 to 1998 by the Hellenic Railways Organization.
The unmistakeable lines of a British-built locomotive in a group of locomotives of American and Italian origin at Agios Ioannis depot in Athens on 12th September 1985 - Former British 'WD' Austerity Class 2-10-0 No.73659 (North British W/No.25458 built in 1944) 'Λβ' Class No.958 cast aside in the locomotive dump, along with USATC 'S160' 2-8-0 Class 'Θγ' No.576. Behind the 'S160' is Italian-built 'Μα' Class 2-10-2 No.1002.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
The unmistakeable lines of a British-built locomotive in a line of locomotives of various origins at Agios Ioannis depot in Athens on 12th September 1985 - Former British 'WD' Austerity Class 2-10-0 No.73659 (North British W/No.25458 built in 1944) No.958 cast aside in the locomotive dump. Greek Railways purchased sixteen surplus Austerity locomotives from the British military in Egypt at a cost of £12,500 each, and they were shipped to Salonika in January 1946. The fleet were subsequently numbered 951-966 and were classified as 'Λβ'. They were put to work in the Thessalonica Division on both passenger and freight duties and even worked some of the 'Top Link' duties such as the Athens to Istanbul and Athens to Yugoslavia Expresses until around 1967, after which they were concentrated to duties in the eastern part of the Division, on lines demanding light axle loads. Upon arrival in Greece the chimneys were lengthened with a deflector added behind. They were also converted to right hand drive and fitted with headlamps, as well as being fitted with an additional cab roof section. Most of the class were still in action until the mid-1970s, after which they were gradually displaced by diesel traction. This 'WD Austerity' was later moved to the Tithorea dump in Central Greece, where it was still languishing until at least August 2017. Intriguingly, the sign warns of inflammable products stored in the vicinity and a consequent "danger of explosion", not particularly ideal with coal-fired locos around!
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
A poignant sight at Athens' Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985, with both the principal passenger and freight locomotives abandoned and awaiting an uncertain future at this time, but both are still with us today, although still unrestored. The high deflector-fitted 'Mα' Class 2-10-2 No.1002 (Breda built in 1953) was one of a class of ten Italian-built coal-fired locos fitted with a Kylchap double-blastpipe and chimney, some of the most powerful non-articulated engines anywhere on the standard gauge in Western Europe, built between 1953 and 1955. They were used on the mountainous and demanding Athens to Salonika main line, with its ruling gradient of 1 in 50. The ubiquitous wartime USATC 'S160' Class 2-8-0 numbered 51 in Greece, and one of the final working examples was Θγ No.576 standing alongside, both locos having been put out to grass several years before this visit. Mα1002 is now at Rouf Goods yard in Athens, displayed as a static exhibit with nine various coaches used as a multiplex cultural exhibition centre, recalling more recent Greek cultural history. Θγ576 (Alco 71554 built in 1944 and formerly USATC No.3299 and Italian Railways 730.906) was removed to the loco dump at Tithorea in Central Greece, where it is understood to still be languishing.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standing around the turntable at Agios Ioannis roundhouse during the early morning of 12th September 1985 were an Alco 1960s-built 1,035hp Class.201 Bo-Bo diesel-electric, two 1960s German-built 1,971hp A.401 Class Co-Co diesel-hydraulics Nos. A-408 and A-404, and 2,700hp Alco Class A.451 No.A-462.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
A remarkable cosmopolitan line-up of unserviceable locomotives cast aside at OSE Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985 - fire-damaged Romanian-built FAUR Bo-Bo diesel-hydraulic A-181, deposited in the sidings with redundant steam locomotives (centre) 1950s Italian-built 'Mα' Class 2-10-2 No.1002 originally used on principal passenger services between Athens and Salonika, and (right) 1940s American-built 'Θγ' Class 2-8-0 No.576 (USATC 'S160' Class No.3299 and Alco Works No.71554 built in 1944), one of 25 examples bought from Italian (FS) Railways in 1959.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank No.6008, Hellenic State Railways (OSE) Class 'Δα' No. 63, bearing Hellenic State Railways (SEK) spurious "A98" identification. Built by Davenport (Works No.2597) in 1944, it is seen at Athens' Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985. During my visit, accompanied by the shed-master, he informed me that this was the last loco to steam on a regular basis for OSE in Athens, until circa 1980, and its external condition in comparison with the other locos there at the time would certainly suggest that. It is now preserved at Thessaloniki Railway Museum.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEK_Class_%CE%94%CE%B1
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank No.6008, Hellenic State Railways (OSE) Class 'Δα' No. 63, bearing Hellenic State Railways (SEK) spurious "A98" identification. Built by Davenport (Works No.2597) in 1944, it is seen at Athens' Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985. During my visit, accompanied by the shed-master, he informed me that this was the last loco to steam on a regular basis for OSE in Athens, until circa 1980, and its external condition in comparison with the other locos there at the time would certainly suggest that. It is now preserved at Thessaloniki Railway Museum.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEK_Class_%CE%94%CE%B1
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank No.6008, Hellenic State Railways (OSE) Class 'Δα' No. 63, bearing Hellenic State Railways (SEK) spurious "A98" identification. Built by Davenport (Works No.2597) in 1944, it is seen at Athens' Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985. During my visit, accompanied by the shed-master, he informed me that this was the last loco to steam on a regular basis for OSE in Athens, until circa 1980, and its external condition in comparison with the other locos there at the time would certainly suggest that. It is now preserved at Thessaloniki Railway Museum.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEK_Class_%CE%94%CE%B1
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank No.6008, Hellenic State Railways (OSE) Class 'Δα' No.63, bearing Hellenic State Railways (SEK) spurious "A98" identification. Built by Davenport (Works No.2597) in 1944, it is seen at Athens' Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985. During my visit, accompanied by the shed-master, he informed me that this was the last loco to steam on a regular basis for OSE in Athens, until circa 1980, and its external condition in comparison with the other locos there at the time would certainly suggest that. It is now preserved at Thessaloniki Railway Museum.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEK_Class_%CE%94%CE%B1
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank No.1987, Hellenic State Railways (OSE) class 'Δα' No.65 (Vulcan Iron Works 4460 of 1943) at Athens Agios Ioannis depot on 12th Sept 1985. It is now to be found in a line of abandoned locos at Tithorea depot in Central Greece.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Standard Wartime U.S. Army Transportation Corps 'S100' 0-6-0 tank, Hellenic State Railways class 'Δα' (Da) No.65, built by the Vulcan Ironworks in 1943 (Works No.4460), stored at Athens Agios Ioannis depot on 12th September 1985. In June 2011 it was to be found in poor external condition in a line of abandoned locos at Tithorea depot in Central Greece.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
A pair of Baldwin War Department 'LG' (Λγ) Class 2-10-0s dumped at Agios Ioannis depot, Athens, on 12th September 1985 - 994 (Works No.73372 built in 1947) and 996 (Works No.73374 built in 1947). Eight of these hand-fired oil-burning locos were obtained from Baldwins in 1947. Fitted with American chime whistles, they had a strong resemblance to the French '141.R' locos, but without smoke deflectors fitted. There had been less than 200 standard gauge steam locomotives in Greece, the most important types being ten-coupled, all except one originating from America, Austria, Belgium and Germany.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
The 1884-built station for the Port of Piraeus in Athens on 3rd September 1985, with OSE steam-heat Alco Class A.451 No.A-70 heading a train for Thessaloniki. A rake of car transporter wagons with imported ex-factory cars is awaiting collection from one of the two sidings enjoying a rail connection to the port. The station now stands abandoned.
There were two station at Piraeus, an impressive metro station and this utilitarian 'main line' station, which is now closed:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piraeus_station
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
The station for the Port of Piraeus in Athens on 3rd September 1985, with OSE steam-heat Alco Class A-451 No.A-470 heading a train for Thessaloniki, as 1960s-built A.101 Class (Krupp V60) station pilot No.A-118 makes up a train of vans. A rake of car transporter wagons with imported ex-factory cars is awaiting collection from one of the two sidings enjoying a rail connection to the port.
OSE Class A.451 details:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSE_class_A.451
OSE Class A.101 details:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSE_class_A.101
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
A fruit and vegetable retailer has clearly enjoyed a good morning with his sales, with just empty boxes left in the horse-drawn cart. A former USATC 'S160' 2-8-0, Greek Railways (OSE) 'Theta Gamma' Class (Θγ class) No.532 stands forlornly, but nevertheless still 'begging' to be photographed, beyond the railway perimeter gate and fence at Thessalonica depot on 21st September 1985.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Well before the days of the 'internet highway' and detailed information about the activities of railways in the Soviet Eastern Bloc countries, the appearance on Thessalonica depot of People's Republic of Bulgaria Railways Electroputere-built Class '06' No.36 was something of a surprise to me at the time, but undoubtedly an everyday occurrence, working cross-border passenger and freight diagrams. Electroputere in Romania built 130 of these 2,100hp diesel-electric locomotives for use in Bulgaria and locos of this design were also supplied to Poland and China as well as for domestic use in Romania. The Romanian company also built the first thirty ill-fated class 56 locos for B.R. Behind the diesel, at the head of a line of dumped steam locos, was Hellenic State Railways class 'La' (Λα ) 2-10-0 No.902.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
One of my objectives whilst visiting Thessaloniki was to photograph the remaining 'USA' (USATC 'S100' Class) locos there. This humble 'USA' 0-6-0 tank numbered 'Δα53' was a remarkable survivor as the last active standard gauge main line steam locomotive on the Hellenic State Railway, albeit ending its final days as a stationary boiler at Salonika motive power depot and rarely moving from its location therein, although it was maintained in steam for most of the year except when under boiler washout and maintenance. Presumably it provided high pressure steam for cleaning purposes, but there was no apparent evidence of this being the case during my visit on 21st September 1985, judging by the external condition of the diesel locos on shed, and the condition of the immediate shed surroundings. After the Second World War the Hellenic State Railways acquired twenty of the ubiquitous 'S100's' and they were imported into Greece between 1946-1947, being designated Class 'Δα' (Delta-Alpha) and numbered 51-70 in the fleet. Four of the Greek 'Delta-Alpha' class were, in July 2021, still to be found at this depot, including No.53, in various states of disrepair.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Whilst studying the Demotic Greek language in Athens in 1985 one of my main objectives, apart from of course sitting a Greek interpreter's exam at the end of the studies, was to visit the steam locomotive dumps at Athens (Agios Ioannis) and Thessaloniki (Salonika) sheds. And so to the Salonika visit; an international overnight train from Athens deposited me in the northern Greece city at a good time for the satisfactory early morning sunlight on this September visit. Armed with an officially stamped and signed visitor's permit, previously applied for in person at the Hellenic State Railways headquarters (OSE) in Athens, I was confident of gaining access without any hindrance. How naïve I was to be thinking of such a straightforward scenario! Despite speaking the language quite fluently by this stage and holding official paperwork, the 'jobs worth' on the security gate at Salonika shed just would not allow any access whatsoever, allegedly because no railway management were in present at such an early time in the morning. He also appeared to view me with great suspicion, which I must admit was quite understandable, forcing myself to see the situation from his point of view. Having travelled so far to fulfil my long-held objective, a 'Plan B' was rapidly formulated, and I very soon sought out a suitable access point for a nimble person such as myself further along the extensive shed yard perimeter fence well away from the official entrance, my youthful exploits of illicit shed visits during B.R. steam days and my then more recently acquired army field training skills quickly slotting into place as if by second nature. And with Adrenalin flowing fast and feeling like a dog with two tails in the land of the forbidden fruits I immediately got to work with my Pentax ME Super camera, working around the various groups of sad looking hulks as the sunlight would allow, but with it becoming increasingly harsher by the minute. Alas, it was not to be quite that straightforward, for the small 'fly in the ointment' proved to be a couple of not too friendly looking mongrel dogs which were not tethered, and rapidly awakening from a deep overnight and, up until then, undisturbed slumber. Clearly they were not in of the disposition to be grateful for this rood and unexpected interruption, far removed from their normally everyday quiet routine at this time in the morning! As they became ever more unnervingly vociferous I fumbled for the remains of the overnight rations in my rucksack and to my great relief the few remaining scraps happily proved their weight in gold in 'buying' the dogs' immediate friendship and quietness. Having dealt with this obstacle, it very soon became apparent to me that many of the locos were arranged in such a way that an evening visit would be far more advantageous. Having secured the photos that were possible with the restrictions of their arrangement around the shed yards during the morning, I confidently made my way to the loco shed buildings alongside the shed gate where I had previously been refused admission, and as luck would have it by that time there had been a shift change and my permit was duly acknowledged, albeit with great reluctance after being questioned over precisely what I had been up to and as to why I had not present myself on the correct side of the main gate! As is the way with Greek people, a chat about my personal life, family disposition and financial standing soon did the trick with the manager warming to me and beginning to understand the motives of my visit. Needless to say, the evening session for the additionally sought compositions did not present any further problems. I was very happy to secure this shot of a classic 'Austerity' North British locomotive and duly celebrated that evening with a Meze supper exclusively to myself, washed down with local chilled beer and the greater part of a bottle of Ouzo, naturally at the insistence of the restaurant owner and of course in the interests of good European relations. Needless to say, this was followed by the mother of all hangovers during the following morning!
North British Austerity 'WD' 2-10-0 No.73656 (works No.25442 built in 1943) and OSE 'Lb' (Λβ) Class No.955 stands in the company of two former USATC 'S160' class 2-8-0s, OSE 'Thg' (Θγ) Class Nos.532 and 584 in the shed yard at Thessalonica depot during the evening of 21st September 1985 . Following the Second World War, the British military authorities designated the 16 'WD' class locos then in store in Egypt as surplus to requirements and they were subsequently shipped to Salonica Port in January 1946. They were soon prepared for work in the local railway division, being equipped for right hand drive, fitted with headlamps, a second roof layer added and the chimney lengthened with a small deflector plate installed behind, clearly visible in this view. By the mid-1960s they were to be found employed as mixed traffic locos holding ten daily diagrams on passenger and goods services, even finding their way onto the top link 'Istanbul Express'. Regular standard gauge steam traction ceased in Greece around 1979 and many steam locos were just set aside and dumped in yards. Six of the 'Lb' class survive, two repatriated to the U.K. and four remaining in Greece, two having been restored to working order in more recent years.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
Austrian-built 0-10-0, Greek State Railways 'Kβ' Class No.817, and Austrian-built, Greek State Railways 'Λα' Class 2-10-0 No.905 (carries No.902) at Thessalonica depot on 21st September 1985. The Austrian built 0-10-0, based on the OBB '80.900' Class, was the most numerous of all Greek classes until the USA 'S160' Class arrived, and 50 examples were delivered in 1924. The more powerful 'Λα' Class numbered 30, ten built in Austria in 1925, and 30 built by Skoda in Czechoslovakia in 1927. These proved to be the principal main line class of locomotive of their time in Greece.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission