I reviewed a recent Trains Magazine article about the Irish mainline network and learned that there was frequent passenger service on numerous lines, along with a growing base of freight traffic. I started poking around looking for likely photo locations, only to stumble across the unexpected phrases “Bord na Mona,” “narrow gauge,” and “peat bog.” Intrigued, I dug further, and was instantly hooked after I found my way to Ted McAvoy’s Bord na Mona Wiki.

I traded emails with Ted and he was most considerate in sharing advice about where to go, when things happen and who to contact, but the real breakthrough was when an email I sent to Bord na Mona itself was answered — just days before we departed — with a short response from Corporate Communications informing me that the local manager was ready to “arrange your visit.” A large corporation willingly opening its doors to a couple strangers from another country? Unheard of!

Follow along as Cortney and I meet a group of incredibly gracious and considerate railroaders who unhesitatingly take time out of their busy days to show us around the fascinating operations at West Offaly Power Station in Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly, and the nearby Blackwater bog network in Cos. Offaly, Galway and Roscommon.

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Cortney and I had an amazing time meeting BnM’s employees, who without fail were gracious with their time, knowledge, supplies of tea, sense of humor and fundamentally cheery nature, and we thank them for granting us the opportunity to explore a fascinating operation that is completely unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in the US.

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I’m excited about what’s on the horizon for 2013; there may not be quite so many trips planned, but I’m looking forward to the adventures that await.

Now available for sale is my Railroading 2012 Wall Calendar:

I can’t deny it: Baby horses are just downright cute. They’re adorable. They’re soft and fuzzy and skittish and curious and you just want to pack them up in the back of your vehicle and take them home — though this isn’t entirely the most practical thing you’d ever do as the foals grow. Fast. They also eat a lot, so you’d better have a pretty big lawn for them to graze upon.

These photos depict some of the foals I’ve had the utter delight to feed (and photograph) on a near-weekly basis throughout 2011 from their births in April.

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I firmly believe that there is no better time to visit Stevens Pass for railroad photography than on winter nights. A line that can be tough to work in daylight suddenly opens up with infinite new possibilities, few of which feature the train so much as the atmosphere surrounding the railroad environment.

Opportunities range from capturing the surreal, to portraying the ethereal, to lighting up the boundaries between two worlds, to finding different ways of portraying the same scene…

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The lesson here: Don’t be afraid of the elements. Prepare yourself to handle the likely challenges, then get out there and let your imagination run free.

In a narrow valley on the east side of Stevens Pass, I found an empty grain train cruising downgrade along Nason Creek through a Cascade Range conifer forest covered in a clean coating of fresh white snow. Welcome back, winter; we have missed you.

Earlier in the day, that same train approached the west portal of Cascade Tunnel, partially obscured in this view from high above by fog and flying snow.

Shooting on Stevens Pass can be hazardous even when sitting still; while waiting for the train to depart Scenic, I nearly got plowed in by a WSDOT snow crew.

(here lies snow plow image)

The ground around downtown Skykomish has long been known to be heavily polluted after decades of unfortunate dumping by the railroad. However, over the last few years, significant effort and expense has been applied to excavate all the contaminated soil and clean up the town, with this work finally concluding in late 2011. I stumbled into the end of a celebration behind held for officials involved with the project and captured this photo of a 7 1/2″ scale live steam engine, an NP 0-4-0, being packed up at the end of the day as a westbound passes by.

The next day, Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder crossed Nason Creek and entered the narrow confines of the Slot on the 2.2% climb to Cascade Tunnel. Although their train was running nearly two hours late this day, passengers on No. 7 benefited by experiencing a daylight ride through the spectacular snow-covered scenery of Stevens Pass. Visible in the windshield is the engineer’s hand as he waved a greeting to the photographer.

An overnight slide fence problem had basically shut down the line until the tracks could be inspected in daylight, and as a result no additional trains were called out of Wenatchee or Seattle until it was confirmed that the line was open. With a long morning lull looming, I retreated to Skykomish for an excellent breakfast at the Cascadia Inn, Cafe and Lounge. Afterward, it was a simple matter to walk down the street, cross the tracks and wait for the daily Z-SSECHC to show up.

I meandered back to the east side of the pass, stumbling across a westbound stack train at Winton that conveniently stopped to wait for the Z to pass amidst a sudden burst of flurries.

(Post to be updated later.)