MUSEUM
Visit the Museum of Scottish Railways, Scotland’s largest railway museum adjacent to Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. Closed until further notice
Admission Times 2020 – closed until further notice
We planned to open our Museum this year from 4 April to 1 November, Open 7 days a week 11.00am to 4.30pm (last admission 4.00pm). Plus special events in December From 11.00am to 3.30pm (last admission 3.00pm)
Sadly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic we will not be opening the Railway or Museum to visitors before the end of September 2020 and will review the situation then.
We are disappointed but our primary concern is to protect our volunteers, staff and visitors. There is more information here.
We will be open again as soon as it is safe to do so, so please watch this space. You can see what there is to do below and we look forward to welcoming you through the doors in the future.
Follow the visitor trail or cross the historic footbridge at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway to find this hidden gem. Three large buildings full of wonders – from full size locomotives to old fashioned railway signs which once adorned the walls of busy railway stations each with a story to tell.
Get hands on and discover railway history through fun interactive displays. Climb on board our vintage Glasgow Subway car and feel the past surround you. Become a signalman and pull the levers on the authentic signal lever frame and challenge your friends to work out how to operate the points. Get an insight into life aboard a travelling Post Office Coach by sorting the letters yourself and don’t miss the famous video of the Night Mail.
Brass Rubbing Trail – Help yourself to a free booklet and follow the visitor trail from Bo’ness Station to the Museum finding our eight new brass rubbings on the way! Pop in to the Display Shed on the way which houses the last remaining “Glasgow Blue Train”, a recently restored Class 126 Diesel Multiple Unit and several other heritage items of rolling stock.
Special Exhibition
News to follow.
See the collection online Explore our small object collection by clicking here and discover the thousands of objects in our collection from photographs to signs and costume to publicity posters. This website will be frequently updated so please check back for updates.
ACCESS – Getting between Bo’ness Station and Museum
There is a 500 metre level walk from the station to the museum buildings, or alternatively a shorter route over the footbridge at the entrance to the carpark. Wheelchair users may find parts of the level path challenging due to the rough surface of the path. We are working to improve the path and look at other ways to make the museum more accessible but in the meantime if you would like to arrange vehicle access to the museum please call the museum in advance on 01506 201521. Alternatively you can talk to a member of station staff at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway on train running days and they will help if staffing levels allow.
Admission Times & Prices
UPDATED Jan 2020 – We hope to have our footbridge re-instated soon but until then the route to the Museum is by Visitor Trail onlu which opens on 4 April. Follow the route which is marked in red here, it starts by the Model Railway coaches next to Bo’ness Station.
Admission Times 2020
4 April to 1 November
Open 7 days a week 11.00am to 4.30pm (last admission 4.00pm)
Plus special events in December From 11.00am to 3.30pm (last admission 3.00pm)
Admission Prices
Children (under 16) free with accompanying adult
£5 Adult Day Ticket
£8 Adult Annual Ticket which gives unlimited free entry for one year from the date of your first visit
Special price of £2 for one visit when purchased with your Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway ticket.
Where Are We?
Where are we?
Find us at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, access over the metal footbridge in the car park or via our level Visitor Trail and next to the Model Railway at Bo’ness Station which takes in the whole site including our Display Shed and is included in your admission price.
Getting between Bo’ness Station and Museum
There is a 500 metre level walk from the station to the museum buildings, or alternatively a shorter route over the footbridge at the entrance to the carpark. Wheelchair users may find parts of the level path challenging due to the rough surface of the path. We are working to improve the path and look at other ways to make the museum more accessible but in the meantime if you would like to arrange vehicle access to the museum please call the museum in advance on 01506 201521. Alternatively you can talk to a member of station staff at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway on train running days and they will help if staffing levels allow.
Museum photo gallery
About the Collection
The collection is based in the Museum of Scottish Railways at Bo’ness and we also have a significant object and archive collection, illustrating the history of railways in Scotland, a history which of course is still being written.
Most of the railway heritage items not currently operating are displayed in the Museum of Scottish Railways, or in our new vehicle display area, beside Bo’ness Station. Some items are kept in buildings which do not have public access, but there are occasional guided tours to these – see More to Enjoy at the Museum above. For access to collections not on display please contact museum@srps.org.uk.
We were awarded full Accreditation status, as the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, on 30th April 2009. The award demonstrates that we have achieved defined national standards relating to governance, visitor services and collection management. Our collection has also been recognised through the Scottish Government Recognition Scheme as being of national significance.
Further details of the collection vehicles can be found on the Scottish Railway Preservation Society Collections Website.
NEW for 2019 Our small object collection can be viewed by clicking here. This website will be frequently updated so please check back for updates.
Dear Visitor
“This hidden gem is only 40 minutes drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh. The staff are really friendly and looked after us as we boarded a beautiful steam train, we saw heritage diesels too. The sights, smells and sounds really took us back in time. After a browse around the excellent Museum of Scottish Railways and a bite to eat in the Station Buffet we all agreed we would recommend it to everyone and we would definitely be back.”
Mr P Gray, Falkirk
News
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society
Operators of Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and Museum of Scottish Railways
Scottish Charity No. SC002375