{"id":3511,"date":"2013-08-13T06:00:23","date_gmt":"2013-08-13T10:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=3511"},"modified":"2013-08-09T10:45:07","modified_gmt":"2013-08-09T14:45:07","slug":"irish-bog-railways-part-4-august-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/irish-bog-railways-part-4-august-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 4, August, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Bord na Mona<\/a>\u2019s Blackwater Network Revisited.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was fifteen years ago that I made my first acquaintance with Ireland\u2019s bog railway, a narrow gauge network operated by Bord na Mona (peat board). At that time, a tourist train run as the Clonmacnoise<\/a> & West Offaly made regularly scheduled trips from the Blackwater depot near Shannonbridge<\/a> in County Offaly.<\/p>\n

As I recall, it was an oppressively damp day. Having arrived under swollen skies, I checked in at the booking office, skeptical if the line was even in operation, only to learn that not only was it running, but that the first couple of trains were sold out!<\/p>\n

Using the time between tourist trains, I made some black & white photos of the peat trains, then returned to ride the line.<\/p>\n

On another occasion two years later, I returned with my father, and family friend Tom Hargadon, and made another spin out on the bog. Since that time, the Clonmacnoise & West Offaly excursion has been discontinued.<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
My August 2013 visit to the Blackwater network found the bog under rapidly changing skies. Lumix LX-3 photo. Contrast modified in post processing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A Busy Irish Narrow Gauge Industrial Railway.<\/p>\n

In early August 2013, I reacquainted myself with Bord na Mona\u2019s Blackwater network, having explored other of Bord na Mona\u2019s railway operations in recent months. See earlier posts:<\/p>\n

Gallery 8: Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 1<\/a><\/p>\n

Irish Bog Railways\u00a0Part 2\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Irish Bog Railways Part 3\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
Empty Bord na Mona narrow gauge train heading out to be loaded. August 2013. Canon EOS 7D<\/a> with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Blackwater is from my experience, by far the busiest of Bord na Mona\u2019s operations, as the West Offaly power station<\/a> at Shannon Bridge has the most voracious appetite of the peat burning plants served by Bord na Mona narrow gauge railways. Quite simply there were trains crawling everywhere I went.<\/p>\n

The day featured a rapidly changing sky. This made for some wonderful lighting and visual effects, but also resulted in me getting unexpectedly soaked when the sky suddenly opened up. One minute it was sunny, the next there was near horizontal rain! On my next visit I\u2019ll bring plastic bags and a jumper!<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
In addition to laden and empty peat trains, Bord na Mona operates various type of maintenance \u00a0trains. Many of these are hauled by older and more eclectic looking locomotives. August 2013. Canon EOS 7D with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
Bord na Mona trains are loaded with peat. A section of temporary track sits in the foreground. Exposed with a Canon EOS 7D fitted with a 28-135mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
A sudden downpour drenches the boglands near Shannonbridge. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
A laden Bord na Mona train crosses the Shannon near the West Offaly power plant. Discharge from the plant warms the river making it ideal for lilly pads to grow. Lumix LX3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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See tomorrow\u2019s post for more Irish Bog Railway photos!<\/p>\n

Related articles<\/h6>\n