The Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway

It was just our luck that a visit on our way back from holiday in the far north west of Scotland to the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway coincided with the temporary closure of part of the line. This was to enable BP to work on a pipeline beneath the track. We had a very nice time there anyway, though, partly due to the efforts of Class J94 No. 19, built by Hunslet at Leeds for the National Coal Board. She was operating on the section from the terminus at Bo’ness as far as the top of the bank at High Bridge.

We found a very friendly organisation, from station staff to locomotive crew and from museum reception to carriage restorers. We were met with a cheery welcome and people who had time for you, at every turn. That makes such a difference to the overall enjoyment of the day. Even the passers-by on the path next to the estuary and around Kinneil Halt were all waving frantically in our direction. Trains, like boats, do that to people. They bring out our best side. Waving at strangers you would be unlikely to greet otherwise is a very warming human response to travelling on forms of transport that are a little out of the ordinary. The train makes people seem happier, just by being there.

In two Norwegian coaches, sitting side by side at the end of the platform at Bo’ness station, there is a splendid O gauge model layout. Called Glenauchter, it is based on Gleneagles and run by the Gauge O Trust. It provides a rich sequence of authentic trains from different periods in the station’s existence.

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society Steam Group also have their headquarters at Bo’ness. No. 45170, a WD Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0 repatriated from Turkey, is the focus of their current appeal. A number of famous old locomotives are based here, including ex-LNER Class D49 4-4-0 No. 62712 Morayshire and ex-NBR [LNER Class J36] 0-6-0 No. 65243 Maude.

Wandering around in the carriage shops we found a very enthusiastic young volunteer, who was perhaps quite eager for a break from chipping away the innards of an elderly teak coach. He was primed, even though the carriage wasn’t, and he kindly gave us an impromptu guided tour of the collection, explaining where they were up to with each of their future exhibits. We came away the best part of an hour later a little more knowledgeable than previously, if a bit overwhelmed by the volume of information received. It’s a good job that there wasn’t a test at the end.

Mmmmmm, I really love those British Railways Mark One blood and custards.