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Light Railways

To supplement the limited standard gauge routes in Macedonia a number of light rail (Decauville) branch lines were constructed. In 1916 a light rail branch line was built from Sarigol on the ‘Jonction Salonique Conatantinople (J.S.C.)’ line to Snevce in the Krusha Mountains, but the route was unreliable with frequent break downs and wash outs. The roads in the Krusha range were unsuitable for heavy traffic so the Snevce branch was the only means of supplying troops in this sector, in October 1917 the line was re-laid and reliability improved.

 

Image left - A Hudson 0-6-0 hauls a light railway train probably near Snevce

 

Image below - Turkish prisoners of war constructing the Guvesne Stavros line in 1917

Also in 1917 work started on a branch off the Snevce light rail line from Gramatna through Kushova to Rajanova, the new line opened in January 1918. In February 1918 an extension to the Snevce line as far as Karamudli was opened.

 

The Guvesne to Stavros light railway was completed April 1918 and as a consequence the sea traffic to Stavros declined, and this new line became a major supply route for the southern end of the Struma Valley.

 

 

Other light railways:Janesh to Gugunci, Spancovo to Oreovica, Likovan to Mirova and the Struma Valley line (K70 to Gumus Dere) operated by the 801st sub section.

 

Hudson 0-6-0 and Baldwin 4-6-0 locomotives as well as petrol tractors were used to haul the trains on the light railway lines that suppoerted the troops on the Macedonian front. The picture on the left shows both a Hudson 0-6-0 and a Baldwin 4-6-0 on the Stavros Line.

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