Lochaber musician Ingrid explores iconic rail line in BBC Alba programme
The line between Fort William and Mallaig is arguably the most spectacular railway in the world.
Earlier this month, we reported on a new book, Hege Hernaes, Building the Mallaig Railway – a photographer’s story – compiled by Hege Hernaes of Glenfinnan Station, containing many examples from an amazing collection of 100 photographs capturing the railway’s construction and which were unearthed recently in Cornwall.
Now, in a BBC Alba documentary, Ceol na Loidhne/ Song of the Track, which is due to be broadcast tomorrow night (December 31) at 9pm, well known Glenfinnan musician Ingrid Henderson takes up the story of how the railway came to be built. She follows the route of the West Highland Line, construction of which started in 1897, in an attempt to discover what the photographs reveal about the lives and people in Lochaber at the time of the line’s construction, and attempts to discover the artist behind the lens. At the same time she will create new music to pay tribute to the railway and the people who built it.
For Ingrid, born in Mallaig, brought up in Fort William and now living and working in Glenfinnan, the railway has always been present in her life.
Through this programme she travels the line stopping at stations along the route to find the places in the photographs – and look for inspiration to compose a new album.
Ingrid told the Lochaber Times: ‘It’s been fascinating to find out more about the building of the West Highland Line not only from this new photo collection which has come to light but also from the descendants of those who lived and worked beside the line all their lives.
‘It’s allowed me to see my home area, of which I’m very proud anyway, through new eyes and inspired me to create new music in reaction to the images and personal stories from the line’s construction.’