Kodza Déré Decauville Railway
{{Short description|French-operated WWI military railway in Makedona}}
{{infobox rail line
|name = Kodza Déré Decauville Railway
|logo=
|logo_width =
|image = Kodza-D%C3%A9r%C3%A9_(mai_1917)_Pont_construit_par_le_g%C3%A9nie_pour_le_Decauville_sur_le_Kodza-D%C3%A9r%C3%A9.jpg
|image_width =
|caption = Crossing a new-built bridge in May 1917
|gauge = {{track gauge|600 mm|lk=on}}
|linelength ={{convert|13.5|km|mi|sigfig=1}}
|map = {{routemap|inline=1|map =
~~km~~
exKBHFa~~13.5~~Black Tree Station~~(μαύρο δένδρο)
WASSERl\exWBRÜCKE1\WASSER+r~~Upper Kodza-Déré bridge
WASSER+l\exWBRÜCKE1\WASSERr~~Middle Kodza-Déré bridge
WASSERl\exhKRZWae\WASSERq~~Lower Kodza-Déré bridge
exHST~~9.5~~Pigi (Πηγή)~~Isvor
exvWSLaq\exSTR+r-STRro\~~7.5~~Vróncho Spiral (βρόγχο)
exHST~~4~~Axioupolis~~(Αξιούπολης) Bohemitsa (Μποέμιτσα)
\exBUE\~~3~~Street from Polykastro to Goumenissa
STR+4\exSTR\~~From Thessaloniki
BHF\exKBHFe\~~0~~Axioupolis station~~Goumentja
GRENZE\\~~Border Greece-Makedonia
STR2\\~~ ~~To Gevgelija~~(Cyrillic: Гевгелија)
}}
}}
The Kodza Déré Decauville Railway (Greek: Κοτζά Ντερέ ντεκοβίλ) was a {{convert|13.5|km|mi|sigfig=1|adj=mid|-long}} narrow-gauge military railway, which was built and operated by French troops during World War I from 1917 to 1918 at Paionia near Polykastro in Makedonia.
History
{{main|Macedonian front}}
The valley of the Kodza Déré River was of strategical importance to the Allied Forces of World War I because the French headquarters were based near Axioupolis and a camp of the 122nd Division and military hospital was located near Pigi. The front line was just a few kilometers above on the height of the Skra-di-Legen Canyon ({{langx|el|Σκρα ντι Λέγκεν}}), where the Battle of Skra-di-Legen ({{langx|el|Μάχη του Σκρα}}) was fought. Similar to the nearby Battles of Doiran in 1917 and 1918 there were lengthy battles with heavy losses in the area.
Route
File:Kodza Déré River Railway 000 (Historic Map).jpg
The Decauville railway with a gauge of {{track gauge|600 mm}} started from the railway station Axioupolis (Αξιούπολης). The station was known until 1927 as Goumentja. The railway crossed the town of Axioupolis, historically known as Bohemitsa (Μποέμιτσα) passing two churches and a mosque. To gain height quickly, it went through an elaborately built Vróncho Spiral (βρόγχο), to Pigi (Πηγή), then known as Isvor. From there it followed the valley of the Kodza Déré River to the terminus Black Tree (μαύρο δένδρο) below the Koúpa Mountain (Κούπα), to supply the Allied Forces at the Macedonian front with supplies and ammunition.
The track and most of the bridges were lifted after the war, but the route with its deep cuts and high embankments is partially still recognisable in the countryside.Kostis Manasis (Κώστας Μανασής): [http://axioupolis.gr/index.php/eikones/a-pagkosmios-polemos/26-boemitsa Axioupolis - Bohemitsa (Αξιούπολη - Μποέμιτσα)][http://archives.ecpad.fr/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/les-petits-trains-de-la-grande-guerre.pdf Kodza-Dere (Macédoine). Pont construit par le Génie pour le Decauville. Mai 1917, Tétart. (PDF)] p. 28. In: [http://archives.ecpad.fr/les-petits-trains-de-la-grande-guerre/ Les Petits Trains de la grande guerre. (HTML)] Archives E.C.P.A.D.
{{-}}
Gallery
Kodza Déré River Railway 030.png|Military supplies stores on Axios River (Vardar)
Kodza Déré River Railway 026 (sap40 or142620 p).jpg|Military logistics train on a high embankment
Kodza Déré River Railway 003.jpg|Military camp in Kodza Déré Valley
Kodza Déré River Railway 016 (sap40 62t000127 p).jpg|Axioupolis railway station (Goumentja)
Kodza Déré River Railway 005.jpg|Churches and mosque of Axioupolis (Bohemitsa)
Kodza Déré River Railway 006 (sap40 or142607 p).jpg|Spiral enroute to Pigi (Isvor)
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Decauville}}
{{coord|41.0029|22.5169|region:GR_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:600 mm gauge railways in Greece
Category:Kilkis (regional unit)