Name: Museum of Scottish Railways
Rating: 5.0

Museum of Scottish Railways

Museum of Scottish Railways, Bo'ness, UK

Paid

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Description

Museum of Scottish Railways is Scotland’s largest railway museum, located in Bo'ness. It invites visitors to discover the rich history of Scotland’s railways through an extensive and historically significant collection. The museum offers an engaging and educational experience for families, enthusiasts, and history lovers.

The museum features a Scottish Railway Exhibition showcasing locomotives, carriages, wagons, signalling systems, archives, and over 50,000 small objects including books and photographs. Interactive activities include Kiddies Trails, monthly railway-themed storytelling, climbing aboard a vintage Glasgow Subway car, sorting letters in a Travelling Post Office, operating points and signals as a signaller, and watching the famous Night Mail video. Visitors can explore two exhibition halls, a Display Shelter, and a Viewing Gallery to see restoration work in action, with level access throughout and a wheelchair accessible lift.

Admission prices are £7 for Adults, £2 for Children (5–16 years), FREE for Under 5s, £15 for a Family (2 adults & up to 3 children), and Carer FREE (proof required). Annual Passes cost £15 for Adults, £3 for Children (5–16 years), FREE for Under 5s, and £25 for a Family (2 adults & up to 3 children).

Overall, the Museum of Scottish Railways offers a fascinating journey through Scotland’s railway heritage. With interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and nationally important collections, it combines education with family-friendly fun. It is an ideal destination for railway enthusiasts, families, and anyone interested in Scotland’s industrial and transport history.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Scottish Railway Exhibition: Discover the history of the railways in Scotland as you explore our unique collection of vehicles, archives, and small objects.
Kiddies Trails: Take part throughout the year in our themed trails! Can you help us find the hidden objects?
Storytelling: Join us as we share a different railway themed story each month with fun interactive storytelling.

COLLECTIONS

Locomotives: The earliest horse drawn tramways connected coal pits to local canals or to the coast. The steam locomotive was first developed in the north of England, and most of its essential features were known by 1829. Steam locomotives were built in Springburn, Kilmarnock, Airdrie, Leith, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, and in smaller numbers elsewhere in Scotland.
Carriages: Our coaching collection includes examples of all the main types used in Scotland from mid Victorian times until the end of the British Railways period. Some of these were designed and built in Scotland, either by private builders or by the railway companies at their own works.
Wagons: Transport of goods, whether raw materials or manufactured product, was the main reason for building railways. When roads were inadequate and canals could not compete, railways carried goods quickly and cheaply. Wagons can be owned by a railway company or by an industrial user, and travel throughout Great Britain as traffic requires.
Small Objects: We hold over 50,000 small objects and archive materials. Our small object collection is continually growing. Some of this is on display in the museum, and some (especially signalling equipment) is displayed on the Railway. The majority of the collection is stored in our Collections Store and accessible on request.

Join us for a variety of events at the Museum of Scottish Railways, running throughout the year.

Facilities

Parking: We have a free car park with accessible parking spaces.

What to see

Climb on board our vintage Glasgow Subway car
Sort letters on a Travelling Post Office
Become a signaller and operate the points and signals for trains
Watch the famous video of the Night Mail

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

ADMISSION PRICES

Adult: £7
Under 5s: FREE
Child (5-16 years): £2
Family (2 adults & up to 3 children): £15
Carer FREE (proof required)

Annual Passes – Unlimited visits in 12 months

Adult: £15
Under 5s: FREE
Child (5-16 years): £3
Family (2 adults & up to 3 children): £25

Pricing URL: https://museumofscottishrailways.org.uk/visit-us/#prices_section

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

February Half Term 2026

Open 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 & 18 February
11:00 – 15:00 (last admission 14:30)

April – October 2026

Open on train running days.
11:00 – 16:30 (last admission 16:00)

Address: Museum of Scottish Railways, Bo'ness, UK

Post Code: EH51 9AQ

Council: Falkirk

County: Bathgate and Linlith

By Car: Bo’ness Station is in the town centre and has lots of free parking. M9 J5 or J3 then follow the brown tourist signs to Bo’ness and the railway. Satnav, EH51 9AQ. If you are travelling by an electric vehicle, there are 5 electric car charging points (connectors) available at Union Street Car Park, less than 5 minutes walk from the station. We have a free car park with accessible parking spaces. From the car park to the entrance there is level access via the accessible crossing at the footbridge.
By Public Transport: Linlithgow is the nearest mainline station. Visitors should alight here and make their way to Linlithgow Cross and the bus stop outside The Four Marys pub.