- Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway
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The Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway is a narrow gauge railway and former tourist attraction in Ireland. Primarily built as an industrial line for hauling newly-cut peat, this 3 ft (or 914 mm) gauge railway was operated by Bord na Móna and conveys visitors over a 9 km rail journey through Blackwater Bog, near Shannonbridge, County Offaly. A small diesel locomotive hauled a single 53-seat passenger coach.
The railway was an important tourist attraction in County Offaly. The Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway has been shut down at the end of 2008 and will not be operating for the foreseeable future. A different tourism concept in the area is in development by Bord na Mona.
Somewhat confusingly, the railway was also sometimes known as (and described on roadsigns as) the Blackwater Railway, the Shannonbridge Bog Railway or the Bog Railway.
Given the historic importance of peat as an indigenous Irish fuel, the railway and associated visitor services also aims to show visitors how milled peat is produced and transported to the Electricity Supply Board's West Offaly Power Generation Station.
See also
External links
Heritage railways and preservation societies in the Republic of Ireland Cavan and Leitrim Railway · Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway · Donegal Railway Centre · Irish Steam Preservation Society · Irish Traction Group · Lartigue Monorail · Railway Preservation Society of Ireland · Tralee and Dingle Light Railway · West Clare Railway
Heritage Railways: Northern Ireland · Republic of Ireland Categories:- Narrow gauge railways in Ireland
- Transport in County Offaly
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