Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a special heritage railway in Bo'ness, Scotland. It's run by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS). This railway lets you experience train travel from the past! It covers over 5 miles (8 km) of track. You can travel between Bo'ness and Manuel Junction, passing through Kinneil and Birkhill. The main station at Bo'ness is also home to the Museum of Scottish Railways.

The railway has three main stations and a small stop:

Bo'ness railway station in Bo'ness
Kinneil Halt (This is a request stop, meaning the train only stops if you ask!)
Birkhill railway station
Manuel Junction

A view of the railway at Bo'ness

Amazing Steam Trains

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway has many amazing steam locomotives. Most of these powerful trains used to work in Scottish industries. Some even worked on the main railway lines!

Steam Trains You Can See Running

Here are some of the steam trains that are currently working:

No. 19: This Hunslet Austerity train was bought from Comrie Colliery. It's painted in NCB Green. It returned to service in 2015.
No. 419 (55189): This Caledonian Railway train is painted in a lovely Caledonian Railway Blue. It started running again in late 2018.
No. 1 Lord Roberts: This train was built in Glasgow in 1899. It was named after a famous Field Marshal. It even became a Thomas the Tank Engine replica for special events! It's painted in Thomas's NWR Blue.

Steam Trains Being Fixed

Some steam trains are currently being repaired or restored to their former glory:

No. 62712 Morayshire: This LNER Class D49 train is being worked on.
No. 80105: This BR Standard Class 4 train is also undergoing a big repair.
No. 7: This Hunslet Austerity train is getting major boiler repairs. It will be back in service with a new boiler certificate.

Steam Trains on Display

Many other steam trains are kept safe and sound, often on display in the Museum of Scottish Railways:

No. 673 (65243) "Maude": This North British Railway train is on display in the museum. It was even used in the 2000 remake of The Railway Children!
No. 49 (62277) "Gordon Highlander": This train is also on display in the museum.
No. 3442 (61994) "The Great Marquess": This LNER Class K4 train arrived at Bo'ness in 2017. It's waiting to be displayed in a new visitor centre.
No. 45170 "Sir William McAlpine": This large LMS Stanier Class 8F train came all the way from Turkey in 2010! It's waiting to be restored.
"Fair Maid of Foyers": This smaller Andrew Barclay train is on display in the museum.
No. 42 (68095): This North British Railway train is on static display.
"City of Aberdeen": This train from Aberdeen Gas Works is stored undercover.
No. 3 "Lady Victoria": This Andrew Barclay train is on display at the National Mining Museum Scotland.
"Lord King": This train sometimes pretends to be Percy the Small Engine for Thomas days!
No. 3 "Clyde's mill": This Andrew Barclay train is stored in the display shed.
"Lord Ashfield": This Andrew Barclay train is also on museum display.

Diesel and Electric Shunters

Diesel trains are often used to move other trains and carriages around the railway yard at Bo'ness. They are very useful for shunting, which means moving wagons and coaches into the right places.

Working Diesel Shunters

No. P6687: This Ruston and Hornsby train is operational and often moves stock around.
321733: Another operational Ruston & Hornsby train.
No. D3558: This is a British Rail Class 08 train, and it's operational.
No. D2767: This British Rail shunter is also operational.

Diesel Shunters on Display

Several diesel shunters are on static display in the museum, showing how they used to work:

A Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engine Co. Ltd. train from 1940.
No. 1: An Andrew Barclay train from 1941.
262998: A Ruston & Hornsby train from 1949.
"Tiger": A North British Locomotive Co. train from 1954.

Heritage Diesel Trains

The Bo'ness Railway also has many former main-line diesel locomotives. They even hold special diesel events each year!

Operational Heritage Diesels

No. 27001: This British Rail Class 27 train is operational. Its overhaul was finished in 2021.
No. 37067/37703: This British Rail Class 37 train is operational.
No. 37403 "Isle of Mull": This British Rail Class 37 train is used for main line operations.
No. 47643: This British Rail Class 47 train is operational.

Heritage Diesels Being Fixed or on Loan

No. 20020: This British Rail Class 20 train is currently out of service due to mechanical problems.
No. 25235: This British Rail Class 25 train is being overhauled.
No. 26038: This British Rail Class 26 train is waiting for generator repairs.
No. 26024: Another British Rail Class 26 train, out of service for bogie overhaul.
No. 27005/D5351: This British Rail Class 27 train is also undergoing overhaul.
No. 37025 "Inverness TMD": This British Rail Class 37 train is currently on loan to another railway company.
No. 37261: This British Rail Class 37 train is undergoing overhaul.

Passenger Train Units

The railway also has some older passenger train units, called DMUs (Diesel Multiple Units). They don't run very often.

Unit 51017+59404+79443+51043: This British Rail Class 126 unit is operational.
Unit 303032: This British Rail Class 303 unit is stored and waiting for restoration.

Passenger Carriages

The SRPS has a large collection of passenger and light freight carriages at Bo'ness. It's one of the most varied collections in the UK!

LNER Teak Carriages

A small group of LNER (London and North Eastern Railway) carriages are at Bo'ness. Many are waiting to be restored.

No. 10021: A Gresley Third Class Corridor carriage, currently being restored.
No. 644: A Gresley Buffet Car, operational for private events.

Norwegian Carriages

Two of the railway's Norwegian carriages were once used for passengers. Now they are used for other things, like being part of a model railway display.

Highland Railway Carriages

The SRPS owns some of the very last Highland Railway carriages still around today.

No. 5: A 4-Wheeled Passenger Brake Van, on display in the museum.
No. 57A: The Duke of Sutherland's Private Saloon, also on display.

LMS Carriages

The railway has several LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway) carriages. Many are stored and waiting for restoration.

No. 27389: A BR-Built Third Class Open carriage, currently being restored.

Caledonian Railway Carriages

These Caledonian Railway carriages were originally used with a special Caledonian train.

No. 1375: A Third Class Corridor Compartment, operational for private events.
No. 464: A Brake Corridor Composite, also operational for special events.

North British Railway Carriages

Like the LMS and Caledonian carriages, none of the North British Railway carriages are currently used for passenger rides.

No. 461: An Invalid Saloon, currently being repainted.

Glasgow & South Western Railway Carriages

No. 122: A 6-Wheeled Full Brake, on display in the museum.
No. 731: A Third Class Corridor Compartment, on display and waiting for restoration.

BR Mk1 Carriages

The BR Mk1s were very common carriages on the main railway lines. They were built to be strong and easy to look after. Today, Mk1s make up most of the trains at Bo'ness.

Many Mk1 carriages are operational, like No. 9237, No. 4215, No. 4422, and many others. They are often painted in Carmine/Cream or SRPS LMS Maroon.
Some Mk1s are used for special purposes, like No. NNX80218 (a Courier coach) or No. 4871 (a mess facility).

BR Mk3 Carriages

No. 10535 and No. 10668: These Mk3a Sleeping Cars are used as accommodation for the volunteer staff.

Other Special Carriages

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway also has some very rare or unique carriages!

A GNSR Royal Saloon from 1897, on display in the museum.
No. 55: A Glasgow District Subway Car from 1901, on display in the museum.

Freight Wagons

Because of the railway's layout, special demonstration freight trains can only run in the yard at Bo'ness. These wagons show how goods were transported in the past.

Mineral Wagons

In the days of steam, these wagons were used to carry coal all over the country.

Callander Coal Company No. 286: A 4-Plank Open Wagon, on display.
Carron Company No. 755: A 3-Plank Open Wagon, on display.
No. 65013: A GSWR 8-Ton Double-Ended wagon, on display.
Many BR 16T and 21T Mineral Wagons are operational, like No. B579284 and No. B314632.

Open Wagons

These wagons were used to carry all sorts of general goods.

No. 51026: A GNR 8T 4-Plank Open wagon, on display.
No. E 315913: A 13T Steel Open wagon, which is operational.

Brake Vans

Brake vans were traditionally used at the front or back of trains to help with braking.

No. 437: A CR Six-Wheeled 20-Ton brake van, on display.
No. 731916: An LMS 20-Ton brake van, which is operational.
No. B951148: A BR 20-Ton brake van, operational for demonstration freight trains.

Covered Vans

These wagons were used to transport larger amounts of goods than open wagons, keeping them safe from the weather.

SAXA Salt No. 252: A 10T Salt Van, on display in the museum.
No. 7232: A GSWR 10T Goods Van, one of only two surviving GSWR wagons, on display.

Tanker Wagons

Tankers were designed to safely transport liquids.

Scottish Tar Distillers No. 78: A Rectangular Tanker from 1877, on display.
Briggs, Dundee No. 20: A 14T Tanker from 1918, which is operational.

Seen on Screen!

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway has been featured in many films, TV shows, and media!

The 2000 remake of The Railway Children used one of their trains, No.673 "Maude".
An episode of Bits and Bobs about railways.
The 2008 remake of The 39 Steps.
It was featured on the MacAulay and Co. radio show on BBC Radio Scotland.
Railway scenes from the BBC One show Case Histories (2011).
The film The Angels' Share by Ken Loach had scenes filmed at Birkhill Station.
An ending scene in the TV show Still Game with Big Innes.
The film The Railway Man (2013), starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, was filmed here.
In the 2012 film Cloud Atlas, a character gets off the train at the station.
The 1991 Swedish film Den ofrivillige golfaren had scenes at Birkhill station.

Images for kids

Steam train crossing the Avonbank Viaduct south of Birkhill

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