{"id":3949,"date":"2013-09-30T05:58:03","date_gmt":"2013-09-30T09:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/?p=3949"},"modified":"2013-09-30T06:16:19","modified_gmt":"2013-09-30T10:16:19","slug":"more-adventures-with-irelands-bord-na-mona-september-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/briansolomon.com\/trackingthelight\/more-adventures-with-irelands-bord-na-mona-september-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"More Adventures with Ireland\u2019s Bord na Mona\u2014September 2013."},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Shannonbridge<\/span><\/a> and More!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week, Mark Healy and I made a foray into Irish bog lands searching for narrow gauge peat trains operated by Bord na M\u00f3na<\/a>\u00a0 (Peat Board). We\u2019d been watching the weather closely and tried to time our visit for a bright clear day.<\/p>\n

We got it wrong. Despite a rosy sunrise in Dublin and generally good forecast, we faced fog, cloudy and just general overcast in County Offaly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After more than a half dozen visits to this rarely photographed industrial railway, I thought I was beginning to have an understanding of their operations.<\/p>\n

I got that wrong too! While, we\u2019d photographed a dozen trains by the end of the day, actual operations were quite different than what I expected.<\/p>\n

\"Bord<\/a>
Trailing view of Bord na M\u00f3na’s Shannonbridge empty ash train returning to Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland. Canon EOS 7D photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
Laden peat train near Shannonbridge, September 2013. Exposed with a Lumix LX3.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Laden<\/a>
Laden trains approach Shannonbridge. Canon EOS 7D photo with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Initially we worked the lines radiating out from Shannonbridge. Our first train was the ever-elusive ash train. That was a bonus for us. After about five hours, having photographed several loaded and empty trains, we decided to head east toward Edenderry<\/a>, which is the focus of another of Bord na M\u00f3na<\/span><\/a>\u2019s<\/span> networks.<\/p>\n

On the way we stumbled upon an obscure Bord na M\u00f3na<\/span><\/a> <\/span>operation. Driving east on highway R357 east of Cloghan<\/a>, Mark noticed a level crossing. \u201cHey! There\u2019s a pair of trains.\u201d I mistook these for trains heading to Shannonbridge<\/p>\n

My error was corrected when we chatted to one of the drivers. Turns out these were empty trains heading out loading to bring peat to the Derrinlough briquette factory. Just dumb luck to catch this operation.<\/p>\n

\"Level<\/a>
Closing the level crossing gates on Ireland’s R357 east of Cloghan, County Offaly. Canon EOS 7D 7D photo with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rare<\/a>
A Derrinlough-based Bord na M\u00f3na train near Cloghan, County Offaly. Canon EOS 7D 7D photo with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
A Derrinlough-based Bord na M\u00f3na train crosses highway R357 near Cloghan, County Offaly. Lumix LX3 photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Bord<\/a>
Trailing view of Derrinlough-based Bord na M\u00f3na trains near Cloghan, County Offaly. Canon EOS 7D 7D photo with f2.8 200mm lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

We finished the day inspecting operations near Mt Lucas and Edenderry. Pity about the lack of sun.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve dealt with\u00a0Bord na M\u00f3na<\/a>\u00a0several times in previous posts.<\/p>\n

Gallery 8: Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 1<\/a>;\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 2 February 16, 2013<\/a>;\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 3, March 2, 2013<\/a>;\u00a0Irish Bog Railways\u2014Part 4, August, 2013<\/a>; and\u00a0Bord na Mona\u2019s Ash Train<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tracking the Light posts new material daily. Please spread the word and share Tracking the Light with anyone who may enjoy seeing it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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