Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway

Nice one!

 

A video of the current construction progress was posted:


Great to see the work for the future ongoing despite the pandemic restrictions. I am looking forward seeing the new workshop rising from the former site of derilicted wagons. It will be much better for visitors and of course for the workforce. I heard they've already sourced a nice crane for heavy lifts (30 t)?

Cheers

 

The structure for the new heavy engineering facility at Bo’ness has appeared out of nowhere this week! Structural steel should be complete tomorrow. Photo by works manager Mark Ashmole.

 

New Engineering Facility at Bo'ness progressing rapidly now with all of the exterior cladding on, 30t Overhead Crane installed (photo thanks to T. Shaw) and works to construct the inspection pit in full swing. First fix of the electrics also underway!

 

The capital elements of Steaming Ahead at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway are rapidly approaching completion. Handover of the new engineering facilities to the Society is imminent and work is progressing well on the new museum entrance.

When complete, visitors of all abilities will be able to view work being undertaken on the Society’s collection of historic steam locomotives and coaches (and maybe the occasional diesel). The new shed and museum entrance will all be linked by a series of tarmac walking trails.

Everything should be open to the public atthe start of our 2022 season - who’s looking forward to a look around?! More information soon…

 

Does the lottery grant include future apprenticeships, or is it solely for the construction of the new facilities?

 

If you look at post #27 (18th November 2020) in this thread Steam mad has listed out the full scope of the lottery grant.

 

That is a seriously impressive facility, it will be a great asset for the railway and the community. Looking forward to seeing more pics as it is fitted out!

 

I may be looking at planning some time in Scotland this year. Do we know when the season with Museum open will be exactly?

 

It should be soon. Theres a new entrance being built for the museum and the work overlaps the site of the locomotive works. But the latter seems to be very close to done : https://www.facebook.com/srpssteam/posts/1816316851891348

 

Members opening weekend in Mid March, local residents the weekend after and then daily to the public from the 2nd April to 30th October.

 

Thank you @steam_mad and @Paul Grant for your responses.
There's a few locos at Bo'ness that I'm wanting to catch up with such as Gordon Highlander, 80105, 68095 & 45170. It would be good to know what is viewable nearer the time - hopefully late spring all being well.

 

Gordon Highlander & 68095 are in the Museum and 45170 is in the new engineering facility, so those three are viewable on any day.

80105 is currently in the 'old' workshop so not visible to the public, though if you ask nicely on the day of your visit someone may be able to take you across.

 

Very much appreciated @steam-mad Thank You

 

Back home where she belongs, 419 is about to depart with the special train arranged for the IRSE conference who visited the line today.

 

All very festive at Bo'ness this morning.

 

Caley Tank 419 has had a run in with a paint brush and now bears British Railways black with an early crest.

For those who think black might be a touch dull, fear not, the loco will only wear this colour scheme for the 2023 season and will be repainted next year into something more elaborate!

All paint and materials funded by photographers at no cost to the SRPS, so a win-win with some photo charter income to be had too.

Photo Taylor Shaw.

 

Nice!

 

Look mighty tidy. I'll have to get across soon.

 

So K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess' is set to leave Bo'ness this morning for Balbuthie.

To take advantage of No. 55189 undergoing steam test on Monday in preparation for service today, we undertook a very ad hoc nightshoot (more dusk than night) with the mogul on the branch rake, the Caley providing steam effects. The last time a good few of us may see her in such a setting again?

Gresley K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess' - Bo'ness Station by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr