Present-Day Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
The railway now operates a 5-mile route between Bo’ness and Birkhill, with plans to extend further to Manuel, where it will connect with the national rail network. Key attractions include the beautifully restored Bo’ness Station, the Museum of Scottish Railways, and regular steam and diesel services. The railway hosts popular events such as Santa Specials, steam galas, and dining trains, as well as being a filming location for TV shows and movies.
Preservation and Reopening
In 1979, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society moved its base to Bo’ness, with the aim of preserving and restoring a section of the railway for heritage operations. Restoration work included relaying track, refurbishing stations, and acquiring a wide range of historic locomotives and rolling stock. The first public trains on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway ran in 1981.
History of the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
The railway occupies part of the former Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway (E&GR), which was originally built in the mid-19th century to serve the industrial areas along the Firth of Forth. The Bo’ness Branch Line was primarily used for freight, transporting coal, iron, and other goods, but it also handled passenger services. By the mid-20th century, the decline in heavy industries and competition from road transport led to reduced use of the branch line. Passenger services on the line were withdrawn in the 1950s, and much of the railway infrastructure was closed or dismantled by the 1970s.