{"id":3534,"date":"2013-08-18T05:55:32","date_gmt":"2013-08-18T09:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=3534"},"modified":"2013-08-11T05:39:42","modified_gmt":"2013-08-11T09:39:42","slug":"bord-na-mona-lanesborough-august-10-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/bord-na-mona-lanesborough-august-10-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Bord na Mona, Lanesborough, August 10, 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Pleasant Summer\u2019s Day Exploring an Irish Narrow Gauge Railway.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
Laden Bord na Mona<\/a> trains approach Lanesborough<\/a>, County Longford on the morning of August 10, 2013. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last winter, I made several visits with my friends to Bord na Mona\u2019s network focused on the Lough Ree Power Station<\/a> at Lanesborough, County Longford. (See: Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 2 February 16, 2013<\/a>,\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 3, March 2, 2013<\/a>),\u00a0On Saturday, August 10, 2013, I returned for another day of photography on this fascinating system.<\/p>\n

Having explored various Bord na Mona railways (see: Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 1<\/a>,\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 4, August, 2013<\/a>), I find that the lines around Lanesborough are the most interesting and photogenic. Here variety of scenery and operations are exceptionally conducive to my photography.<\/p>\n

Summer offers more pleasant temperatures and longer days, but also brings more foliage, taller grass and other challenges that I didn\u2019t experience in February!<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
A tractor cuts road-side hedges near Lanesborough. Taller grass made this location more difficult than in February. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think its safe to say that I didn\u2019t get bored with Bord na Mona. From the first moment trackside, the railway seemed to be buzzing with trains. The section of double track running east from Lanesborough toward Mountdillon was especially busy.<\/p>\n

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\"Bord<\/a>
Empties work the double track east of Lanesborough on August 10, 2013. The Lough Ree Power Station looms in the distance. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I even had another opportunity to catch one of the ash trains on the move. (See: Bord na Mona\u2019s Ash Train<\/a>). Perhaps my bold proclamation of its elusivity has tipped the scales in my favor\u2014a sort of reverse jinx, as it were.<\/p>\n

Or maybe, its my persistence. It\u2019s nice to get a lucky catch, but likewise, the more time spent trackside, the better the odds of seeing the unusual, as well as the elusive, the rare, and the obscure. Having a better sense for when trains run helps too!<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
An empty Bord na Mona ash train passes Mountdillon on its way back to the Lough Ree power station at Lanesborough. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
Running meet on the double track between Mountdillon and Lanesborough. An empty rake of peat wagons meets an empty ash train. The intense clattering of narrow gauge trains gives the network a feeling of a large model railway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
An empty rake near Derreghan Cross Roads with the expanse of harvested boglands on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Bord<\/a>
Empty trains take a passing siding at Derraghan More on the way out to be reloaded. Canon EOS 7D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord_na_Mona_\"<\/a>
An empty rake waits for a pair of laden trains near Derraghan More. Canon 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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