Gemma the webmaster visited the Bo'ness and Kinneil railway, 15th October 2005, as part of a weeks holiday in Scotland.  This railway is within 30 mins travel of Livingston / Edinburgh.  It is also near Falkirk and the canal wheel.  A very pleasant ride of several miles from the centre of Borrowstounness to Kinneil, where there is a Fireclay mine which I also visited, just adjacent to the railway, with regular guided tours.  The railway continues to Manuel, with a connection on the Edinburgh - Glasgow  mainline , but in the great tradition of Network Rail, no effort is being made to help with the provision of a station and interchange with the mainline.  You also pass near to the Grangemouth oil refinery, but it is not as grim as it sounds, the scenery is mostly very pleasant.

Bo'ness station

'Thomas' at Bo'ness?

Quite atmospheric under the canopy (breathing in the smoke!)

At Kinneil, the line carries on to the mainline at Manuel.  Unfortunately, no passenger trains pass this point.

At Kinneil..my father is in the centre of picture.

Steep wire rope incline used to transport fireclay from the mine to the surface.

Fireclay mine Adit - 3/4 mile tour...

The surface processing building.  The clay would then go on a siding to the railway.  Only abandoned in 1980!

Back at Bo'ness - a Caledonian Railway loco.

Sheds everywhere (contrasts heavily with RVR...)

There is also the Scottish railway exhibition to the far left behind the goods shed...

Down the line from the overbridge at Bo'ness - Grangemouth oil refinery in distance.

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