Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway

Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway
Bo'ness
Kinneil
Birkhill

The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a heritage railway in Bo'ness, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS), a registered charity,[1] and operates a total of over 5 miles (8 km) of track (between Bo'ness and Manuel Junction, via Kinneil and Birkhill), virtually the entire Slamannan and Borrowstounness Railway that became part of the former North British Railway on the Firth of Forth. Bo'ness railway station is the nucleus of the Museum of Scottish Railways.

A view of the railway at Bo'ness
Steam train crossing the Avonbank Viaduct south of Birkhill

Stations

The railway has three main stations and small halt:

Rolling Stock

Steam locomotives

Most of the steam fleet have had major industrial careers in Scotland, but a few ex-mainline types are also in constant service.[2][3]

Operational

Number & nameDescriptionHistory & current statusLiveryOwner(s)Build DatePhotograph
No.419 (55189)[4]Caledonian Railway 439 Class 0-4-4TReturned to traffic in the middle of October 2018 after an absence of 9+12 years.Caledonian Railway Blue.SRPS1907

Undergoing overhaul/restoration

Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 62712 Morayshire[4]LNER Class D49 4-4-0Under overhaul.N/A.1928
No. 80105[5]BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4TOverhaul being undertaken by LOGS.BR Lined Back1955

Stored/static

Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 673 (65243) "Maude".[4]North British Railway Class C (LNER Class J36) 0-6-0On display in the Museum of Scottish Railways.BR Black1891
No. 49 (62277) "Gordon Highlander".[4]GNSR Class F (LNER Class D40) 4-4-0On display in the museum, on loan from Riverside Museum.GNSR Green1920
No. 3442 (61994) "The Great Marquess".[4]LNER Class K4 2-6-0Arrived at Bo'ness in September 2017. To be displayed in the museum until the completion of owner John Cameron's new visitor centre in Fife.[6]BR Lined Black1938
No. 45170 "Sir William McAlpine".[4]LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0Repatriated from Sivas in November 2010. Arrived at Bo'ness in November 2014 and currently awaiting restoration to working order, tender now being overhauled in the running shed.N/A1942
No. 42. (68095)[4]NBR G Class (LNER Y9 Class) 0-4-0STOn static display in the museum.NBR Brown/Green1887

Heritage diesels

Former main-line diesel locomotives are abundant on the Bo'ness Railway, and diesel galas are held each year.

Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 25235[7]BR Bo-Bo Class 25Undergoing overhaul.BR Blue1964
No. 26038[7]BR Bo-Bo Class 26Generator away for repairs.BR Blue1959
No. 26024[7]BR Bo-Bo Class 26Out of service for bogie overhaul.BR Blue1959
No. 27001[7]BR Bo-Bo Class 27Operational, overhaul completed in 2021.BR Blue1961
No. 27005/D5351[7]BR Bo-Bo Class 27Under overhaul in the MMPD.BR Blue1962

Multiple units

The DMUs do not see much service.

Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDateNotesPhotograph
Unit 51017+59404+79443+51043[8]BR Class 126OperationalBR Green1959 (79443 was built in 1956)51017, 59404 and 51043 are now virtually complete and form an operational unit. 79443 is undergoing a heavy body restoration.
Unit 303032 (formed of 75597+61503+75602)[8]BR Class 303Undergoing restoration.Strathclyde Orange and Black (61503 is in Carmine/Cream)196061503 from unit 023 after 032s MBSO damaged during its stay at Immingham docks

See also

References