Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway

Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway
Bo'ness Kinneil Birkhill Manuel Junction Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line

The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a heritage railway in Bo'ness, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS), and operates a total of over 5 miles 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 planned Scottish Railway Museum.

The railway has three main stations and small halt:

• Bo'ness railway station at Bo'ness (i.e. Borrowstounness)
• Kinneil Halt (Request stop)
• Birkhill railway station
• Manuel Junction

A view of the railway at the Bo'ness end of the line in 1985

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.

Operational

Number & name	Description	History & current status	Livery	Owner(s)	Build Date	Photograph
No. 19.	Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST	No. 19 was purchased by the railway from Comrie Colliery. It returned to service in March 2015 following overhaul. Boiler ticket expires in 2024.	NCB Green		1954
No.419 (55189)	Caledonian Railway 439 Class 0-4-4T	Returned to traffic in the middle of October 2018 after an absence of 9 1/2 years.	Caledonian Railway Blue.	SRPS	1907
No. 7.	Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST	Boiler Ticket expires 2021.	BR Black (as 68007)		1954
No. 1 Lord Roberts	Neilson Reid 0-6-0T	No. 1 was built by the former Glasgow-based company and was sold to Coltness Iron Company near Lanarkshire in 1902, and that year was named after a famous Field Marshal of the Victorian and early Edwardian eras. After many decades spent both in operation and in store, the National Coal Board acquired it for further duties in 1955. Major damage was the cause of withdrawal in 1968 and it was eventually donated to the SRPS for restoration and future use. Restoration was completed in 1996 and it became a fully licensed Thomas the Tank Engine replica for events. Boiler lifted back into the frames March 2017 and returned to service 13th May 2017.	Thomas the Tank Engine Blue.		1899

Undergoing overhaul/restoration

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 62712 Morayshire	LNER Class D49 4-4-0	Under contract overhaul at the Llangollen Railway. Return to traffic expected late 2018.	N/A.	1928
No. 80105	BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T	Overhaul being undertaken by Logs. A return to traffic could be possible during 2018.	N/A.	1955
No. 17	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	Undergoing restoration at Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.	NCB	1950

Stored/static

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 673 (65243) "Maude".	North British Railway Class C (LNER Class J36) 0-6-0	On display in the Museum of Scottish Railways.	BR Black	1891
No. 49 (62277) "Gordon Highlander".	GNSR Class F (LNER Class D40) 4-4-0	On display in the museum, on loan from Glasgow Transport Museum.	GNSR Green	1920
No. 3442 (61994) "The Great Marquess".	LNER Class K4 2-6-0	Arrived 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.	BR Lined Black	1938
No. 45170.	LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0	Repatriated 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/A	1942
"Fair Maid of Foyers".	3 ft gauge Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0T	Supplied new to Morrison & Mason, Bucknall. Locomotive has been fully overhauled, steam tested, and is on display in the Museum of Scottish Railways.	Lined Green	1899
No. 42. (68095)	NBR G Class (LNER Y9 Class) 0-4-0ST	On static display in the museum.	NBR Brown/Green	1887
"City of Aberdeen"	Aberdeen Gas Works 0-4-0ST	On loan to the Tanfield Railway.	Blue	1887
No. 3 "Lady Victoria".	Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST	Stored, a cosmetic overhaul is being arranged.	Yellow	1916
"Lord King"	Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST	masquerading as Percy for Thomas days.	Currently painted as "Percy".	1926
No. 3 "Clyde's mill".	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	Stored in the display shed, no plans for a return to steam.	Green	1928
"Lord Ashfield"	Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-6-0 Fireless Locomotive	Museum display.	Red	1931
No. 4	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	Stored, awaiting restoration.	NCB Black	1937
No. 3	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	Stored, awaiting restoration.	Blue	1937
ex-Wemyss Private Railway No. 20	Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T	moved from the display shed to the running shed, December 2017-January 2018, once 419 is finished a full assessment will be carried out and overhaul will start.	W.P.R. Brown	1939
No. 6.	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Crane Tank	On static display in the museum.	Coalville Green	1942
No. 17.	J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST	Partially dismantled no plans for a return to steam.	N/A	1943
No. 24.	Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T	Stored in the display shed, no plans for a return to steam.	NCB Black	1953
No. 5.	J94 Austerity 0-6-0ST	Partially dismantled no plans for a return to steam.	N/A	1955

Diesel/electric shunters

As with almost all of the preserved lines in Britain, diesel shunters are predominantly used to move rolling stock and locomotives around the yard at Bo'ness.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
None	Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engine Co. Ltd. 4w 0-4-0	Static display in the museum.	Dark Blue	1940
No. 1	Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 Diesel-Mechanical	Static display in the museum.	Green	1941
None	Ruston & Hornsby 4w Diesel-Mechanical 88DS 0-4-0	Stored/Static display	N/A	1949
No. 7	Ruston & Hornsby 4w Diesel-Mechanical 88DS 0-4-0	Stored	N/A	1949
No. P6687	Ruston and Hornsby 4w 0-4-0	Operational, regularly serves as a stock shunter.	Green	1951
None	Ruston & Hornsby Diesel-Mechanical 88DS 0-4-0	Operational.	Green	1952
"Tiger"	North British Locomotive Co. 4w 0-4-0DH	Static display in the museum.	Red	1954
"Texaco" No. 3	4w 0-4-0DM	Operational at Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.	Red	1958
Clyde Iron Works No. 1	4w 0-4-0DE	Stored	Green	1958
Clyde Iron Works No. 3	4w 0-4-0DE	Stored	Green	1958
No. D3558.	BR 0-6-0 Class 08	Operational.	BR Green	1958
No. D2767	BR 0-4-0 North British shunter	Operational.	BR Green	1960
No. 802	Ruston & Hornsby 4w 0-4-0DH	Stored.	N/A	1962
None	Motor-rail Simplex 3 ft 4w 0-4-0DM	Stored	Green	1970

Heritage diesels

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

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 20020	BR Bo-Bo Class 20	Out of service due to mechanical issues.	BR Blue	1959
No. 25235	BR Bo-Bo Class 25	Out of service awaiting overhaul.	BR Blue	1964
No. 26038	BR Bo-Bo Class 26	In Service at the NYMR for the 2017-19 season.	BR Blue	1959
No. 26024	BR Bo-Bo Class 26	Out of service for bogie overhaul.	BR Blue	1959
No. 27001	BR Bo-Bo Class 27	Operational.	BR Blue (rusted and faded)	1961
No. 27005/D5351	BR Bo-Bo Class 27	Under overhaul in the MMPD.	BR Blue	1962
No. 37025 "Inverness TMD"	BR Co-Co Class 37	On loan to Colas Rail	BR Blue Large Logo	1961
No. 37261	BR Co-Co Class 37	Under overhaul.	DRS Blue
No. 37067/37703	BR Co-Co Class 37	Operational.	Debadged DRS blue.
No. 37403 "Isle of Mull"	BR Co-Co Class 37	Main line operation.	BR Blue Large Logo	1965
No. 47643	BR Co-Co Class 47	Operational.	ScotRail	1965

Multiple units

The DMUs do not see much service.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Notes	Photograph
Unit 51017+59404+79443+51043	BR Class 126	Operational	BR Green	1959 (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)	BR Class 303	Stored awaiting restoration.	Strathclyde Black and Orange (61503 is in Carmine/Cream)	1959	61503 from unit 023 after 032s MBSO damaged by flashover

Coaching stock

The SRPS's stock at Bo'ness includes 67 passenger and light freight coaches. It is one of the most varied collections in the U.K.

LNER teak panel coaches

A small collection of LNER coaches reside at Bo'ness, though most of the collection has yet to be restored.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 10021	Gresley Third Class Corridor	Currently under restoration.	Teak Finish	1924	~
No. 62515	Gresley Brake Second Class Corridor	Stored, awaiting restoration.	Teak Finish	1924	~
No. 644	Gresley Buffet Car	Operational - Seen mostly on service train for private functions.	Teak Finish	1937	~
No. 4271	Gresley Full Brake Pigeon Van	Stored, awaiting restoration.	BR Blue	1940	~
No. 13803	Thompson Third Class Tourist Open	Operational. (Sees only occasional use)	Teak Finish	1947	~
No. Sc80417E	BR-Built Thompson Brake Third Class Non-Corridor	Operational. (Sees only occasional use)	Teak	1951	~

Norwegian coaches

Two of the railway's Norwegian coaches were originally restored and used on passenger trains, though they have since been grounded for other purposes.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 5010	Norges Statsbane 4-wheeled Full Brake	Now located in Leven and owned by Fife Heritage Railway	Worn Red	1914	~
No. 791	Norges Statsbane Bogie-Open Saloon	Part of the Gauge O Guild Model Railway.	Teak Finish	1923	~
No. 663	Norges Statsbane Bogie-Open Saloon	Part of the Gauge O Guild Model Railway.	Teak Finish	1937	~

Highland Railway coaches

The SRPS owns some of the last surviving HR coaches in existence today.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 5	4-Wheeled Passenger Brake Van	Static display in the museum.	HR Green	1870	~
No. 89	Coupé 6-Wheeled Composite	Stored.	HR Green	1909	~

LMS coaches

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 12059	Non-Corridor Third Class Compartment	Stored in the open as little more than a shell.	N/A	1930	~
No. 37817	Luggage, Mail and Parcels Van	Stored out in the open.	N/A	1935	~
No. M31036	Stanier (Period III) Full Brake	Stored.	N/A	1939	~
No. 27389	BR-Built Third Class Open	Currently undergoing restoration in the RCB.	LMS Maroon	1948	~
No. 27407	BR-Built Third Class Open	Currently undergoing restoration in the RCB.	N/A	1948	~
No. 24725	BR-Built Corridor Composite	Stored.	LMS Maroon	1950	~
No. DB999502	BR-Built Inspection Saloon	Stored.	LMS Maroon	1959	~

Caledonian Railway coaches

Caledonian Railways stock was originally used with the CR 0-4-4T, but has seen little use of late due to the loco being out of traffic.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 426	Caledonian Railway 9-Compartment Non-Corridor	Stored out in the open in need of a full bodywork repair.	N/A	1914	~
No. 1375	Third Class Corridor Compartment	Operational, used on private functions and at special events.	CR Maroon and White	1921
No. 464	Brake Corridor Composite	Operational, used on private functions and at special events.	CR Maroon and White	1923

North British Railway coaches

As with the LMS and Caledonian coaches, none of the North British Railway coaches are in service on passenger trains.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 1184	4-Wheeled Four Compartment	Stored (body only).	N/A	Circa. 1870	~
No. DE773090	6-Wheeled Composite	Stored out of view (underframe only).	N/A	Circa. 1885	~
N/A	Third Class Six Compartment	Body grounded on the platform at Birkhill.	N/A	N/A	~
No. 461	Invalid Saloon	Stored.	NBR	1919	~
No. Sc3565E	Third Class Corridor Compartment	Used as a mess room.	N/A	1921	~
No. 467	Third Class Brake	Stored.	N/A	1921	~

Glasgow & South Western Railway coaches

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
N/A	Third Class 5 Compartment (body only)	Stored.	N/A	N/A, Before 1893	~
No. 122	6-Wheeled Composite	Part of the Steam Loco Dept.	N/A	1901	~
No. 731	Third Class Corridor Compartment	Static display in the museum.	N/A	1914	~

BR Mk1s

The BR Mk1s were an abundant type of coach on the mainline in the early days of BR steam, and like the BR Standards, were built to be both durable and easy to maintain. Today Mk1s make up over 95% of all Bo'ness trains, generally made of three or four of them in Carmine/Cream, SRPS LMS Maroon.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 24895	MK1 SK	Undergoing a bodywork overhaul.	Carmine/Cream	1955	~
No. 9237	Mk1 BSOT	Operational.	Green/Cream	1956	~
No. 4215	Mk1 TSO	Operational.	BR Maroon	1956	~
No. 15834	Mk1 CK	Stored out in the open.	BR Maroon	1956	~
No. 4422	Mk1 TSO	Operational.	Carmine/Cream	1956	~
No. 4529	Mk1 TSO	Stored, awaiting repairs.	Carmine/Cream	1957	~
No. NNX80218	Mk1 BSK (Courier)	Operational, not on passenger trains.	BR Green	1958	~
No. 35185	Mk1 BSK	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1958	~
No. 13228	Mk1 FK	Stored	Green/Cream	1959	~
No. 13229	Mk1 FK	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1959	~
No. 13230	Mk1 FK	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1959	~
No. 4831	Mk1 TSO	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1959	~
No. 4832	Mk1 TSO	Operational.	Carmine/Cream	1959	~
No. 4836	Mk1 TSO	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1959	~
No. 4844	Mk1 TSO	Operational.	Carmine/Cream	1959	~
No. 4856	Mk1 TSO	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1959	~
No. 3096	Mk1 FO	Operational, with Main-Line Certification.	InterCity	1959	~
No. 1730	Mk1 RBR	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1960	~
No. 4871	Mk1 TSO	Used as a mess facility.	Blue/Grey	1960	~
No. 21241	Mk1 BCK	Operational.	Carmine/Cream	1961	~
No. 5028	Mk1 TSO	Operational.	Carmine/Cream	1961	~
No. 1866	Mk1 RMB	Operational.	Green/Cream	1961	~
No. 1859	Mk1 RMB	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1962	~
No. 18788	Mk1 SK	Stored, awaiting removal.	Network SouthEast	1962	~
No. 35304	Mk1 BSK	Operational, used as a support coach.	Carmine/Cream	1962	~
No. NNX80221	Mk1 Courier (ex-BSK)	Used as a mess facility on Bo'ness Platform 2.	Blue/Grey	1962	~
No. 35405	Mk1 BFK	Operational, used on Santa Specials.	Plain Maroon	1962	~
No. 3115	Mk1 FO	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1962	~
No. 3150	Mk1 FO	Stored, with main-line certification.	BR Green	1962	~
No. 35512	Mk2a BSK	Stored	Blue/Grey	1967	~
No. 5412	Mk2a TSO	Operational, with main-line certification.	SRPS LMS Maroon	1968	~
No. 80382	Mk1 POS	On display.	Royal Mail Red	1975	~
No. 80437	Mk1 POT	Being converted into a shop.	Post Office Red	1976	~
No. 10535	Mk3a Sleeping Car	Used as volunteer staff accommodation.	InterCity	1982	~
No. 10668	Mk3a Sleeping Car	Used as volunteer staff accommodation.	InterCity	1982	~

Other coaches

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway's stock includes rare, or even unique, builds for special purposes.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
None	GNSR Royal Saloon	Static display in the museum.	GNSR	1897	~
No. 245	WCJS Third Class Corridor	Stored.	N/A	1903	~

Freight stock

Due to a lack of loops mid-journey, demonstration freight trains are restricted to the yard at Bo'ness.

Mineral wagons

In the days of steam wagons like these would have been used to transport coal across the country and into England and Wales.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 286	Callander Coal Company Wagon	Static display in the museum.	Callander Coal Company Grey	N/A	~
No. 755	Carron Company Wagon	Static display in the museum.	Brown	Circa. 1890	~
No. 65013	NBR 8-Ton Double-Ended	Static display in the museum.	Loco Coal NB Grey	Circa. 1890	~
No. 189	RCH 12-Ton 7-Plank	Static display in the museum.	Kinneil Sandy Red	1930	~
No. B579284	BR 16T Mineral Wagon	Operational.	BR Grey	1957	~
No. B555710	BR 16T Mineral Wagon	Operational.	BR Bauxite	1958	~
No. B314632	BR 21T (with roller bearings)	Operational.	BR Bauxite	1962	~
No. B314633	BR 21T (with roller bearings)	Operational.	BR Bauxite	1962	~
No. B314636	BR 21T (with roller bearings)	Operational.	BR Rusted Grey	1962	~
No. 350001	EWS 32.5T HCA Hopper	Operational	EWS	1964	~

Brake vans

Brake vans are traditionally used either in front of, or behind trains.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
No. 437	CR Six-Wheeled 20-Ton	Static display in the museum.	CR Bauxite	1920	~
No. 731916	LMS 20-Ton	Undergoing restoration.	LMS Bauxite	1945	~
No. B951148	BR 20-Ton	Operational, used on demo freights.	BR Grey	1951	~

Tanker wagons

Tankers were originally designed for the safe transportation of liquids.

Number & name	Description	Current status	Livery	Date	Photograph
Scottish Tar Distillers No. 78	Rectangular Tanker	Static display in the museum.	Black	1877	~
Oakbank Oil Company No. 13	10T Tanker	Static display in the museum.	Black	1894	~
No. A43	Shell BP Tanker	Static display in the museum.	Black	1897	~
Naval Store No. 161	14T Tanker	Static display in the museum.	Black	1918	~
Briggs, Dundee No. 20	14T Tanker	Operational.	Black	1918	~
Briggs No. 17	14T Tanker	Stored.	Black	1927	~
No. 206	20T Tanker	Stored.	Silver DCL	1930	~
No. 241	20T Tanker	Stored.	Silver DCL	1940	~
No. 4	20T Tanker	Stored.	BP Chemicals	1941	~
No. 14	14T Nitric Acid Tanker	Static display in the museum.	Grey	1941	~
No. 252	20T Tanker	Stored.	Distiller's Co. Ltd Silver	1951	~
No. 261	20T Tanker	Stored.	British Hydrocarbon Chemicals Silver	1956	~
No. BPO67496	45T TTA Tanker	Stored.	BP Green	1966	~

Appearances in film, TV and media

• 2000 re-make of The Railway Children, filmed on the Bluebell Railway using No.673 "Maude".
• The railway themed episode of Bits and Bobs.
• 2008 re-make of The 39 Steps.
• Featured on the MacAulay and Co. radio programme on BBC Radio Scotland.
• Location of railway scenes from Case Histories, BBC One. 2011
• Ken Loach The Angels' Share at Birkhill Station for the opening with Actor Gary Maitland as Albert.
• Still Game one of the Episode Big Yin ending scene when Big Innes Clive Russell on the train.
• The film The Railway Man, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, is based on the autobiography of Eric Lomax. Made in 2013, it was released in January 2014.
• In the 2012 film Cloud Atlas, Jim Broadbent's character Timothy Cavendish alights at the station.

See also

• List of British heritage and private railways
• List of closed railway lines in Great Britain

External links

• The Railway website
• The Collection website
• The Diesel Group website
• The Steam Group website