Narrow Gauge, Portbou, 1940

2007 - 2009

One of five books included in the first edition of Fair Use (notes from spam)

Narrow Gauge largely consists of a photo essay in Portbou, Catalonia, site of a 140 year bottleneck within the European rail network. Spain and France adopted different rail gauges in the 19th century - necessitating a complex system of sidings in the border town of Portbou, so that trains could change wheel bases. A new high speed line between Montpelier and Figueres is rendering this infrastructure obsolete within the changing infrastructure of the European union. Portbou is now attempting to build a tourist industry, partly on the basis of the death of Walter Benjamin in the town, during his overnight detainment whilst trying to cross the border to flee the Nazis.

narow gauge cover spread

benjamin bombers narrow page 1bullethole spread
train tags land lines
Benjamin sign spread trainline weed
bullet hole

Thumbnails are detals of pages from Narrow Gauge (2009)

 

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