B&KR Spring Diesel Gala 2026

Footage from the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway spring diesel gala on Sunday 17th May 2026. Unfortunately 37025's restoration wasn't 100% complete in time and with some issues still to be resolved she was only on static display at Bo'ness. 37403 had been taken out of service on Friday with a fault but was back in action on Sunday. Arriving slightly too late to get on the 0930 departure, I managed to film the Class 99 double-header from the lineside before I got to Bo'ness station. I was delighted to discover that the museum was open, which it had not been for my last few visits to the railway, which allowed me to see the recently preserved 91131. The museum was also running an exhibition on sleeper trains, with the 1930s LNER sleeper carriage open as well as a more recent BR Mk 3 sleeper carriage. In addition, Waterside Number 24 is also now inside, much to my surprise and delight. The one disappointing absence from the museum was Beckton Number 1, which was recently acquired from Penrhyn Castle. Heading to Birkhill on the DMU, I saw the progress made on the new signalbox. Unfortunately the station waiting room was closed and the picnic area up by the old fireclay mine is somewhat overgrown and neglected. As with many steam railways, there are never enough volunteers! Shout out to ‪@Andi090386‬ , ‪@JakeNeill-e3v‬ and ‪@railreports‬ who I met at the gala.