Latvia’s Fascinating Peat Railways

In Inčukalns, Latvia, 42 kilometres from Riga, peat is extracted industrially to produce briquettes for heating or peat for potting soil.  by Sigrid Riewe-Scholz

During the Soviet era, the peat extraction areas were connected by specially built 750 mm gauge railways. Railway construction proved to be more suitable than roads throughout the peat bogs. Over the years, the industrial vehicles were adapted to local requirements and converted with improvisational genius.

Today, the Danish group SIA Pindstrup operates peat extraction in Inčukalns. The line network is over 3 kilometres long. The brightly coloured fleet comprises the Soviet MD54-4 number 900073 which pulls a train of delivery trucks on rails. These vehicles were built between 1958 and 1974 and have maximum 54 hp. Load capacity per axle is limited to 2.6 t. to be able to drive on the poorly maintained tracks. As track condition in Inčukalns allows heavier loads, two water tanks were mounted to improve adhesion.

When the train reaches the end of the track, a device raises the container and empties the turf onto a pile for onward transportation by lorry. Each waggon carries two containers.

Inčukalns offers a fascinating insight into the past and present of peat extraction in Latvia. One can only hope that these unique peat trains will be preserved and continue to pique the interest of trainspotters.