Kalabaka station and Meteora rocks, a world wide known station

Kalabaka is a city with a population of 21.280 people, at 2011, located at central Greece, at the northwestern part of Thessaly region. The reason it attracts 2.000.000 tourists from all over the world annually is, of course, the unique geological phainomenon, the rocks called "Meteora". The word stands for the rocks that seem to just hang from the sky (greek writing "Μετέωρα, μετέωρος). On top of some rocks lie Orthodox monasteries, some in operation and others not, all accessible via road of foot trail. The railroad station of the city was built in the 1890's, once belonging to the former "Thessalian railways" (1,000 m ) , now is the terminal station  of the branch line that splits from the Athens-Thessaloniki main line at Palaiofarsalos station. The sinlge track branch line Palaiofarsalos-Kalabaka (1,435 m) is 80 kilometres long. The station was rebuilt in 2001 when the line was reconstructed as a standard gaige one and is equipped with waiting room, toilets, masters' office, ticket office and other facilities. It has three platforms, one main track and two sidings (the second one is normally used for the locomotives to change direction). Unfortunately, many of the old installations of the station, including water and coal towers, used in the past for steam locomotives, a metric gauge turntable and two engine sheds, are left there derelict, due to the bad economic situation of the country overall. Also, despite being a popular touristic city, Kalabaka is now well and properly served ny train, due to the economics, again and bad policy of the Railways public organization. Despite all these, it is a beautifull little terminal station with friendly staff and the breath taking for some, soul reviving for others Meteora rocks at the background. 

The view of Meteora rocks and Kalabaka city from the drivers' cab (train 884 executed by an AEG DMU)

The main platform, the main line and a some sunshine

A general view of the station taken from platform number two

End of the tracks. On the right we see the abandoned engine shed and staff domritories, on the left stands another derelict engine shed

Train 885 executed by AEG DMU 520 155-255 on the main line

Adtranz 220013 reverses under heavy snow at Kalabaka (February 2012) 

Train 885 (ADtranz 220026 on the lead), Kalabaka station, Meteora rocks, that is the scenery

Here are some of my Youtube channel videos, all taken in Kalabaka station or Kalabaka plus other stations of the Palaiofarsalos-Kalabaka line. I hope you will feel like being there. For those of you who have allready visited Kalabaka, Trikala etc. i hope they bring back good memories to you.