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Morayshire Running Dates Confirmed

Morayshire on Bo'ness foreshore (Photo : Roger Haynes) The most common question asked of staff at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway in 2006 has been "when is Morayshire running?" Although the popular Gresley-designed engine has operated services on a number of days since her restoration and relaunch last October, additional work on setting her valves has resulted in her appearances being only sporadic, and usually taking place without notice.

Now at last enthusiasts can put definite dates in their diaries: Morayshire will be hauling services from Bo’ness at 11.00, 12.15, 13.45 and 15.00 on the September 23rd and 24th.

According to John Mayes, Marketing Director of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (which operates the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway), the wait for the locomotive has been frustrating for members as well as for visitors, although he adds: “There was no point in being impatient, as the job of setting the valves properly was a very difficult project. A special set of rollers had to be manufactured on which the wheels could be moved just enough for the work to be carried out accurately – and this was a long and extremely precise operation.”

With its classic looks and its apple green LNER livery Morayshire, which has been entirely restored by unpaid volunteers at Bo’ness after 20 years out of service, is already a favourite at the West Lothian tourist attraction.

The engine was originally taken out of service in 1961, reaching its lowest ebb when it was used for a while as a stationary boiler at Slateford Laundry in Edinburgh. Eventually the engine was rescued by Ian Fraser in 1962, restored by Inverurie works in 1964 and handed over to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1966, who in 1974 agreed to lend it to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society with the aim of returning it to steam. The work was completed in time for the engine to take part in the 150th Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in August 1975.

Morayshire was based at the then Falkirk base of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society until withdrawn once again from service in 1983, at which time it was partially dismantled. Seventeen years were to pass before restoration work started in earnest in early 2000.

Engine Notes
In 1925 this class of locomotive was the first express engine to be designed by Sir Nigel Gresley with Morayshire being built at Darlington in 1928, and based during her career in Scotland at Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh Haymarket and St Margarets, Thornton and Hawick.
Originally numbered 246, Morayshire became 2712 under the LNER, and 62712 under BR. Morayshire is the sole survivor of a class of 76 locomotives.


Visit of HRH The Duke of Gloucester to the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway

HRH The Duke of Gloucester on footplate of Morayshire (Photo : Roger Haynes)


His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester visited the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway on Wednesday 27th July 2005. During his visit he was given a short ride on the footplate of LNER 246 Morayshire. The picture shows the Duke on the footplate with Brian Thomson (driver and SRPS Director). The Duke then visited the Scottish Railway Exhibition.


First Day Cover of stamp featuring Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway

B&KR First Day Cover

Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, which is owned and operated by the volunteers of The Scottish Railway Preservation Society, is honoured to be one of the Heritage Railways featured in the Royal Mail's Classic Locomotives Stamp Collection which were issued on 13th January 2004.

The Society issued a limited edition First Day Cover featuring CR419 and the Caledonian Coaches on the foreshore at Bo'ness. The covers are available from the shop at Bo'ness Station, Union Street, Bo'ness, or by post from : F.D.C., SRPS, 17-19 North Street, Bo'ness, West Lothian EH51 0AQ.
The cover with the single first class stamp is £5.00 plus 50p post and packing, cheques should be made payable to SRPS. (The full set is now sold out.)


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