From Vision to Initiative

The story of the Railway Museum’s creation begins in 1973, when Mr. George Nikakis, a newly hired employee of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), met Mr. Christodoulos Christodoulou, then an assistant engineer at the Organization. The two men worked together in the Traction Department, and through their conversations, Mr. Nikakis learned of Mr. Christodoulou’s vision: to create a museum that would showcase the history of public transportation in Greece.
The initial proposal had not been accepted by the leadership of the Ministry of Transportation at the time. Mr. Nikakis suggested that they focus their efforts on fixed-track transportation and, in particular, on the railroad, believing that such a project could be more easily realized with the assistance of OSE.
Mr. Christodoulou responded positively, and the two began searching for a suitable location even before securing official approval. They carried out this effort in their spare time, alongside their official duties.

The Selection of the First Location

The location at 4 Siokou Street in Athens was chosen as the most suitable; the Museum was housed there until its relocation to Lefka in Piraeus in 2019.
At that time, the space was used as a warehouse for small parts and automobile tires belonging to the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), while the two-story building served as a training facility for railway apprentices from the provinces. Its connection to railway history, however, dated back even further: the Piraeus–Athens–Peloponnese Railways (SPAP) had operated a railcar depot there, and the “Mylos Athinon” station was located in the same area . A remnant of this use was the rotating slab on the opposite side of Siokou Street.
Another factor in the decision was that the site was no longer considered particularly essential for OSE’s operational needs and was likely to be abandoned. The next step was to secure its transfer.
After persistent efforts, OSE management accepted the request. The initial response to the project remained cautious, even from some of the two initiators’ colleagues. They, however, persisted.

The Collection and Restoration of the Exhibits

Once the space was secured, the most difficult part of the effort began: locating, collecting, restoring, and transporting the exhibits.
The initial support from OSE was primarily moral and was contingent on the Organization’s services not being affected. No staff was allocated from the outset for the museum under construction. Mr. Christodoulou and Mr. Nikakis worked outside of their regular office hours and covered many of the necessary trips using their own resources and at their own expense. They even transported the display cases that were ordered later in their personal cars.
Drawing on his reputation as an engineer and his personal connections, Mr. Christodoulou secured the use of an OSE truck to remove the stored materials and transport them to the “Amalia” facilities, in the area of what is now the Acharnes Railway Center.
Through his own efforts, restoration work on important exhibits was also organized. The Patras Locomotive Depot repaired metric-gauge rolling stock; the cogwheel passenger car was restored at the Piraeus factory; and the standard-gauge steam locomotive was restored at the Larissa Locomotive Depot.
At the same time, Mr. Christodoulou persuaded the Municipality of Messolonghi to donate to the Museum a particularly significant steam locomotive from the Railways of Northwestern Greece (SVDE), which had been on display in a city square. To replace it, he located and secured another steam locomotive.

The Gradual Recognition of the Effort

As the collection took shape and the value of the exhibits became apparent, support from OSE management and employees grew.
With the help of the TMK, a canopy was installed, funds were approved for painting the buildings and landscaping the grounds, and the necessary resources were provided for transporting the heavy exhibits.
The responsibility for planning and coordination, however, continued to rest with the two pioneers. Each transport had to be organized in a way that would not cause delays in train schedules or disruptions to the Organization’s services.
The first employee hired by the Museum was Mr. Nikos Apergis, a craftsman and painter, who for a time remained its sole employee. Mr. Christodoulou, as director, and Mr. Nikakis, as secretary and his assistant, continued to offer their services outside their regular working hours. Later, Mr. Nikakis was succeeded in this position by Mr. Nikos Giannopoulos, who became closely associated with the Museum and its operations.
The grand opening took place in June 1979, at a ceremony attended by the then-leadership of OSE. The persistent efforts of a few people had now taken concrete form: a space dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Greece’s railway history.

A Space for Culture and Gathering

Following Mr. Christodoulos Christodoulou, the directorship of the Museum was successively assumed by Messrs. Kostas Androulidakis, Giannis Tsadaris, Asterios Tsavdaris, Giorgos Nikakis, and Giannis Katsaris. Each contributed, in his own way, to the museum’s operation and improvement.
Special mention should be made of Mr. Giannis Tsadaris. During his tenure, projects such as the landscaping of the courtyard, the renovation and furnishing of the multipurpose hall, and the construction of a 60-centimeter-gauge track—on which an industrial train ran—were carried out with funding from OSE.
His contribution, however, was not limited to infrastructure. In collaboration with the Friends of the Railroad Association, he strengthened the Museum’s cultural character by organizing events that attracted people from the worlds of literature and the arts and brought a new audience closer to the railroad.
Among these events, the following stand out:

• A tribute to the train painter Mr. Stelios Mavromatis, featuring an exhibition of his works and a presentation by art critic Mr. Chrysanthos Christou.
• The celebration of the 120th anniversary of the start of public transportation in Athens, co-organized by the Museum, the SFS, and OASA.
• Art exhibitions and events dedicated to railway anniversaries.

The event co-organized by the Museum, the SFS, and the City of Athens, during the mayoral term of Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, to promote Mr. Antonis Tritsis’s vision for the return of the tram to Athens holds a special place in our memories. Representatives of the authorities, academics, and many guests attended. The reception took place among the illuminated exhibits, highlighting the unique character of the space.
Later, OSE funded restoration and enhancement work on the Museum, which had also sustained damage from the 1999 earthquake. The dedication of its staff played a key role in maintaining a welcoming environment for visitors.

The Museum and the Founding of Our Association

The Railway Museum is directly linked to the founding of the Friends of the Railway Association.
Its operation attracted people with a shared interest in trains, brought them together, and created a place for them to meet and exchange knowledge and experiences. From these connections arose the desire for an organized collective presence.
Thus, the SFS was founded in 1983. Since then, the Association’s journey and that of the Museum have been intertwined through joint initiatives, personal contributions, and a steadfast commitment to preserving the railway heritage.

The Need for Relocation and the Proposal for Lefka

The decision to move the railroad tracks underground after they leave Larissa Station made it necessary to relocate the Museum, as its buildings were slated for demolition.
At the same time, the available space was no longer sufficient for the collection’s needs. There was no possibility of adding new rolling stock, a fact that limited the Museum’s growth.
Our Association examined alternative proposals and determined that the OSE facilities in Leuka, Piraeus, were the most suitable option. This decision was also formalized in a resolution by the Board of Directors.
Lefka offered two significant advantages: its connection to railway and industrial history, and the availability of space that could accommodate both the Museum’s immediate needs and future expansions. The gradual transfer of the facility’s operations to the Thriassio Pedio and elsewhere created the conditions for this development.
At the initiative of Mr. Nikos Belavilas, a professor at the National Technical University of Athens and a friend of the SFS, as well as the Greek Chapter of the international organization for the protection of industrial heritage, a survey of the site was conducted. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, efforts were also made to have certain buildings designated as protected structures.

The 2018 Meeting and Coordination of the Relocation

On September 26, 2018, the Friends of the Railroad Association convened a meeting at its offices to select a relocation site and prepare for the move.
Representing OSE were the then-president, Mr. Kakoulakis; the then-CEO, Mr. Theocharis; the special advisor to management and member of the Friends of the Railway Association, Mr. Yannis Zartaloudis; and the Public Relations Manager, Ms. Anogeati.
Also present were Professor Nikos Belavilas, one of the museum’s founders, Mr. Giorgos Nikakis, and former locomotive engineer Mr. Nikos Tagaroulias, who has specialized experience in the transport of historic rolling stock. Mr. Christodoulos Christodoulou had already passed away.
The SFS was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Panagiotis Kakavas, Vice President Mr. Petros Rallis, architect and Board member Mr. Nikos Polyzois, the heads of the Public Relations Department, and the head of the Model Railroading Department.
The Association and Mr. Belavilas proposed the immediate relocation of the Museum to the “Rotonda” site in Lefka. The proposal was accepted unanimously. It was agreed that OSE would oversee the cleaning of the site and the repair of the existing buildings to enable the Museum to reopen.
Specific responsibilities were also assigned during the meeting:

• The SFS and Mr. Nikos Tagaroulias would contribute their expertise and personal efforts to the preparation, packing, and transport of the exhibits.
• Mr. Nikos Belavilas would arrange for the necessary permits and submit to OSE the site plan and proposals for its development.
• OSE would provide the necessary transportation, renovate the new space, and, with the assistance of the SFS, undertake the re-exhibition of the collection.

The Practical Contribution of the Members of the SFS

To implement the above, the Association formed a team consisting of Mr. Iasonas Zorzos, Mr. Michalis Theofanopoulos, Mr. Vasilis Korovesis, Mr. Nikos Polyzois, Mr. Petros Rallis, and Mr. Giorgos Chandrinos.
Together with Mr. Nikos Tagaroulias, the team members drew on their knowledge of railway history and historic rolling stock to undertake the detailed documentation, packaging, and logistics of transporting the exhibits.
The team completed its work in a short time. At the same time, it compiled a report outlining its assessments of the exhibits and its recommendations for how they should be displayed in the new space. The SFS Board of Directors submitted the report to both the president and the CEO of OSE.

The New Venue and the Need to Complete the Project

On May 28, 2019, the opening ceremony for the Museum’s new venue in Leuka, Piraeus, took place in the presence of the then Minister of Transportation, Mr. Spirtzis.
Unfortunately, the Museum remains closed to the public. The arrangement of the exhibits, as documented after their relocation, was temporary. Our Association continues to raise this issue regularly, requesting updates and the Museum’s reopening.
The relocation of the collection was an important step, but the effort must be completed with the proper presentation of the exhibits and the operation of a museum open to the public. This is the essence of our long-standing goal: to preserve our railway heritage and ensure it remains accessible to the public as a source of knowledge and memory.