Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway


The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is a heritage railway in Bo'ness, Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and operates a total of over of track, 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:

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

Undergoing overhaul/restoration

Stored/static

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
-Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engine Co. Ltd. 4w 0-4-0Static display in the museum.Dark Blue1940
No. 1Andrew Barclay Static display in the museum.Green1941
-Ruston & Hornsby 4w Diesel-Mechanical 88DS Stored/Static displayN/A1949
No. 7Ruston & Hornsby 4w Diesel-Mechanical 88DS StoredN/A1949
No. P6687Ruston and Hornsby 4w 0-4-0Operational, regularly serves as a stock shunter.Green1951
-Ruston & Hornsby Diesel-Mechanical 88DS Operational.Green1952
"Tiger"North British Locomotive Co. 4w 0-4-0DHStatic display in the museum.Red1954
"Texaco" No. 3Operational at Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.Red1958
Clyde Iron Works No. 1StoredGreen1958
Clyde Iron Works No. 3StoredGreen1958
No. D3558.BR Class 08Operational.BR Green1958
No. D2767BR North British shunterOperational.BR Green1960
No. 802Ruston & Hornsby 4w 0-4-0DHStored.N/A1962
-Motor-rail Simplex gauge StoredGreen1970

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. 20020BR Bo-Bo Class 20Out of service due to mechanical issues.BR Blue1959
No. 25235BR Bo-Bo Class 25Undergoing overhaul.BR Blue1964
No. 26038BR Bo-Bo Class 26Generator away for repairs.BR Blue1959
No. 26024BR Bo-Bo Class 26Out of service for bogie overhaul.BR Blue1959
No. 27001BR Bo-Bo Class 27Generator away for repairs.BR Blue1961
No. 27005/D5351BR Bo-Bo Class 27Under overhaul in the MMPD.BR Blue1962
No. 37025 "Inverness TMD"BR Co-Co Class 37On loan to Colas RailBR Blue Large Logo1961
No. 37261BR Co-Co Class 37Under overhaul.DRS Blue
No. 37067/37703BR Co-Co Class 37Operational.Debadged DRS blue.
No. 37403 "Isle of Mull"BR Co-Co Class 37Main line operation.BR Blue Large Logo1965
No. 47643BR Co-Co Class 47Operational.ScotRail1965

Multiple units

The DMUs do not see much service.
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDateNotesPhotograph
Unit 51017+59404+79443+51043BR Class 126OperationalBR Green1959 51017, 59404 and 51043 are now virtually complete and form an operational unit. 79443 is undergoing a heavy body restoration.
Unit 303032 BR Class 303Stored awaiting restoration.Strathclyde Black and Orange 195961503 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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 10021Gresley Third Class CorridorCurrently under restoration.Teak Finish1924~
No. 62515Gresley Brake Second Class CorridorStored, awaiting restoration.Teak Finish1924~
No. 644Gresley Buffet CarOperational - Seen mostly on service train for private functions.Teak Finish1937~
No. 4271Gresley Full Brake Pigeon VanStored, awaiting restoration.BR Blue1940~
No. 13803Thompson Third Class Tourist OpenOperational. Teak Finish1947~
No. Sc80417EBR-Built Thompson Brake Third Class Non-CorridorOperational. Teak1951~
No. E1211Gresley Sleeper First Class CorridorOn Static Display.BR Blue-Grey1935~

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 5010Norges Statsbane 4-wheeled Full BrakeNow located in Leven and owned by Fife Heritage RailwayWorn Red1914~
No. 791Norges Statsbane Bogie-Open SaloonPart of the Gauge O Guild Model Railway.Teak Finish1923~
No. 663Norges Statsbane Bogie-Open SaloonPart of the Gauge O Guild Model Railway.Teak Finish1937~

Highland Railway coaches

The SRPS owns some of the last surviving HR coaches in existence today.
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 54-Wheeled Passenger Brake VanStatic display in the museum.HR Green1870~
No. 89Coupé 6-Wheeled CompositeStored.HR Green1909~
No. 57ADuke of Sutherland's Private SaloonStatic display in the museum.HR Green & Cream?1899~

LMS coaches

Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 12059Non-Corridor Third Class CompartmentStored in the open as little more than a shell.N/A1930~
No. 37817Luggage, Mail and Parcels VanStored out in the open.N/A1935~
No. M31036Stanier Full BrakeStored.N/A1939~
No. 27389BR-Built Third Class OpenCurrently undergoing restoration in the RCB.LMS Maroon1948~
No. 27407BR-Built Third Class OpenCurrently undergoing restoration in the RCB.N/A1948~
No. 24725BR-Built Corridor CompositeStored.LMS Maroon1950~
No. DB999502BR-Built Inspection SaloonStored.LMS Maroon1959~

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 426Caledonian Railway 9-Compartment Non-CorridorStored out in the open in need of a full bodywork repair.N/A1914~
No. 1375Third Class Corridor CompartmentOperational, used on private functions and at special events.CR Maroon and White1921
No. 464Brake Corridor CompositeOperational, used on private functions and at special events.CR Maroon and White1923

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 11844-Wheeled Four CompartmentStored.N/ACirca. 1870~
No. DE7730906-Wheeled CompositeStored out of view.N/ACirca. 1885~
N/AThird Class Six CompartmentBody grounded on the platform at Birkhill.N/AN/A~
No. 461Invalid SaloonRepaint in progress.NBR1919
No. Sc3565EThird Class Corridor CompartmentUsed as a mess room.N/A1921~
No. 467Third Class BrakeStored.N/A1921~

Glasgow & South Western Railway coaches

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 24895MK1 SKUndergoing a bodywork overhaul.Carmine/Cream1955~
No. 9237Mk1 BSOTOperational.Green/Cream1956~
No. 4215Mk1 TSOOperational.BR Maroon1956~
No. 15834Mk1 CKStored out in the open.BR Maroon1956~
No. 4422Mk1 TSOOperational.Carmine/Cream1956~
No. 4529Mk1 TSOStored, awaiting repairs.Carmine/Cream1957~
No. NNX80218Mk1 BSK Operational, not on passenger trains.BR Green1958~
No. 35185Mk1 BSKOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1958~
No. 13228Mk1 FKStoredGreen/Cream1959~
No. 13229Mk1 FKOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1959~
No. 13230Mk1 FKOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1959~
No. 4831Mk1 TSOOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1959~
No. 4832Mk1 TSOOperational.Carmine/Cream1959~
No. 4836Mk1 TSOOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1959~
No. 4844Mk1 TSOOperational.Carmine/Cream1959~
No. 4856Mk1 TSOOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1959~
No. 3096Mk1 FOOperational, with Main-Line Certification.InterCity1959~
No. 1730Mk1 RBROperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1960~
No. 4871Mk1 TSOUsed as a mess facility.Blue/Grey1960~
No. 21241Mk1 BCKOperational.Carmine/Cream1961~
No. 5028Mk1 TSOOperational.Carmine/Cream1961~
No. 1866Mk1 RMBOperational.Green/Cream1961~
No. 1859Mk1 RMBOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1962~
No. 18788Mk1 SKStored, awaiting removal.Network SouthEast1962~
No. 35304Mk1 BSKOperational, used as a support coach.Carmine/Cream1962~
No. NNX80221Mk1 Courier Used as a mess facility on Bo'ness Platform 2.Blue/Grey1962~
No. 35405Mk1 BFKOperational, used on Santa Specials.Plain Maroon1962~
No. 3115Mk1 FOOperational, with main-line certification.SRPS LMS Maroon1962~
No. 3150Mk1 FOStored, with main-line certification.BR Green1962~
No. 80382Mk1 POSOn display.Royal Mail Red1975~
No. 80437Mk1 POTBeing converted into a shop.Post Office Red1976~

BR Mk3s

Other coaches

The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway's stock includes rare, or even unique, builds for special purposes.
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusLiveryDatePhotograph
-GNSR Royal SaloonStatic display in the museum.GNSR1897~
No. 245WCJS Third Class CorridorStored.N/A1903~
No. 55Glasgow District Subway CarStatic display in the museum.Glasgow Subway Red1901~

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 & nameDescriptionCurrent statusNotesLiveryDatePhotograph
Callander Coal Company No. 2864-Plank Open WagonStatic display in the museum.Grease axleboxes, wooden frame, block buffers. Previously worked at Clyde Ironworks. Rebuilt from a 7-plank open wagon.Callander Coal Company GreyN/A~
Carron Company No. 7553-Plank Open WagonStatic display in the museum.Built by Carron Ironworks. Dumb buffers.BrownCirca. 1890~
No. 65013GSWR 8-Ton Double-EndedStatic display in the museum.Number 65013 is fictitious. Fitted with NBR grease axleboxes, hence the North British Railway livery.Loco Coal NB GreyCirca. 1890
No. 189RCH 12-Ton 7-PlankStatic display in the museum.Wooden frame, oil axleboxes. This wagon previously worked at multiple collieries in Fife for the National Coal Board, as No. 1098.Kinneil Sandy Red1930~
No. B579284BR 16T Mineral WagonOperational.Built by Pressed Steel at Linwood.BR Grey1957~
No. B555710BR 16T Mineral WagonOperational.Built by Teesside Bridge & Engineering.BR Bauxite1958~
No. B314632BR 21T Operational.Built by BR at Derby.BR Bauxite1962~
No. B314633BR 21T Operational.Built by BR at Derby.BR Bauxite1962~
No. B314636BR 21T Operational.Built by BR at DerbyBR Rusted Grey1962~
No. 350001EWS 32.5T HCA HopperOperationalBuilt by BR at Faverdale.EWS1964~

Open wagons

These wagons would have been used for transportation of any goods in general
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusNotesLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 51026GNR 8T 4-Plank OpenStatic display in the museum.Wooden frame, oil axle boxes. Previously worked at RNAD Bandeath.GNR Red1880~
PSTO No. 40NER 10T 7-Plank OpenStatic display in the museum.Originally a goods van, heavily rebuilt at Rosyth Dockyard.Black1910~
No. 93177MR 10T 5-Plank OpenStatic display in the museum.Built by the MR at Derby.MR Grey1920~
4-Plank Bogie OpenStored.Built by Fairfield Bridge and Engineering at Chepstow.Blue1939~
No. 41613313T 5-Plank OpenStatic display in the museum.Previously worked at Rosyth Dockyard, numbered No. 42 there.LMS Bauxite1943~
No. E 31591313T Steel OpenOperational.Built by BR to an LNER design at Shildon. Worked at Rosyth Dockyard and numbered No. 15 there.BR Bauxite1949~
No. B 45897713T Steel OpenOperational.Built by BR at Ashford.BR Bauxite1951~
No. B 72216012T 5-Plank ShocbarStatic display in the museum.Built by BR at Derby to an LMS design. Previously worked at Rosyth Dockyard, numbered No. 17 there.BR Bauxite1952~

Brake vans

Brake vans are traditionally used either in front of, or behind trains.
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusNotesLiveryDatePhotograph
No. 437CR Six-Wheeled 20-TonStatic display in the museum.Built by Clayton Wagons Ltd. at Lincoln. Previously worked at Gartshore Colliery.CR Bauxite1920~
No. 731916LMS 20-TonOperational.Built by the LMS at Derby/Wolverton. Previously worked at Comrie Colliery in Fife.LMS Bauxite1945~
No. 634355LNER 20T BallastOperational.Built by R.Y. Pickering.LNER Blue1948~
No. B951148BR 20-TonOperational, used on demo freights.Built by BR to an LNER design at Faverdale.BR Grey1951~
No. 99377120T "Shark" BallastOperational.Built by BRCW.BR Black1954~

Covered vans

These wagons were used to transport larger quantities of goods than open wagons,
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusNotesLiveryDatePhotograph
3Six-wheel Road VanStores van.Body and underframe only. Used as an S&T store.BlueN/A~
SAXA Salt No. 25210T Salt VanStatic display in the museum.Body only. The van was in use as a hay store on a farm near Hawick. SAXA Salt livery visible; restored to original condition and placed on underframe of tank wagon no. 7.SAXA Salt YellowN/A
No. 510T Grain Hopper VanStatic display in the museum.Built by Hurst Nelson at Motherwell. Ex-Leith General Warehousing Co. Ltd.Grey1897~
No. 7232GSWR 10T Goods VanStatic display in the museum.One of only two surviving GSWR wagons. It is on static display although has run a few times.GSWR Grey1900~
Leith General Warehousing No. 12010T Grain Hopper VanStatic display in the museum.Built by Hurst Nelson at Motherwell. Previously used by Leith General Warehousing Co. Ltd.Leith General Warehousing Red1903~
No. 55251LNWR 'Tranship' Goods VanStatic display in the museum.Built by the LNWR at Earlestown.LNWR grey1910~

Tanker wagons

Tankers were originally designed for the safe transportation of liquids.
Number & nameDescriptionCurrent statusNotesLiveryDatePhotograph
TDE No. 691880Fuel TankerStored.Tanker frame was originally an NBR H class tender. Withdrawn in 1936 and converted to sludge tender at Doncaster. By 1944, converted at Doncaster to a fuel tank to work with the LNER's diesel shunter J45s based at Doncaster.Black.~~
Scottish Tar Distillers No. 78Rectangular TankerStatic display in the museum.North British Railway no. 27168. Built at Cowlairs by the NBR. Wooden frame.Black1877~
Oakbank Oil Company No. 1310T TankerStatic display in the museum.Built by R.Y Pickering. The frame is steel. Wagon was grease axleboxes.Black1894~
No. A43Shell BP TankerStatic display in the museum.Built by Chas Roberts. Wooden frame.Black1897~
Briggs, Dundee No. 2014T TankerOperational.Registered to the LNWR as No. 808. Steel frame.Black1918~
Briggs No. 1714T TankerOperational.Built by Chas Roberts. Registered with the LMS as No. 120090.Black1927~
DCL Distillers No. 20620T TankerStored.Built by Metro Cammell.Silver DCL1930~
DCL Distillers No. 24120T TankerStored.Registered with the LMS as No. 169672.Silver DCL1940~
BP Chemicals No. 420T TankerStored.Built by Hurst Nelson at Motherwell. Registered with the LMS as No. 160900.BP Chemicals1941~
No. 1414T Nitric Acid TankerStatic display in the museum.Built by Hurst Nelson at Motherwell. Registered with the GWR as No. 407.Grey1941~
Distillers Company No. 25220T TankerStored.Built by M&W Grazebrook at Dudley. Registered with British Railways as No. 183392.Distiller's Co. Ltd Silver1951~
BHC No. 26120T TankerStored.Built by Hurst Nelson at Motherwell. Registered with British Railways as No. 560.British Hydrocarbon Chemicals Silver1956~
No. BPO6749645T TTA TankerStored.Built by R.Y Pickering in Glasgow.BP Green1966~

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