Christmas events

MoSR reopens for the Christmas period with a new exhibition, a fun festive trail, music and storytelling, and a competition to name our snow plough.

Christmas is a time for bringing friends together.  For those who cannot make it to Bo’ness, our seasonal winter talks, which will be held via Zoom, will share a glimpse behind the scenes with the crews of the BKR, unpack ‘Real Steam’ in the photographic collection of Alistair Maclean, and bring you up to date with news on the ‘Morayshire’ restoration project and everything that’s going on around Bo’ness.  See our Winter Talks series 2025/6 blog for more information. 

Read on to unwrap what’s on offer across December and January and find out about special seasonal pricing on offer throughout the season.

New exhibition

Santa isn’t the only person who works hard to deliver festive cheer.  This season, we will be looking into our archive and revealing glimpses of how the railway’s many and varied merrymakers have helped brighten our Christmas through the years.  We will also be showing a selection of festive items from our small object collection for the first time.  Items will be on display in the Museum entrance hall.

Explore our halls with with a fun festive trail

In Victorian times, postmen were given the nickname ‘robins’ thanks to their red coats. Because of this, the bird became firmly associated with the delivering of messages and a popular symbol of Christmas as sending cards and festive messages became more common.

Look out for the robins hiding around our galleries this December.  Read the messages they have for you and learn how our railways have shaped Scotland’s Christmas celebrations over the years.

Bring your quiz sheet back to the front desk to collect a prize.

Stories and music in the Royal Saloon

Settle into the Royal Saloon and enjoy some festive interactive storytelling and music-making with Liz and Vicky across selected weekends in December.  Each 30 minute session is aimed at children aged 2-8, but all are welcome to join in the fun.  Events are free with your museum ticket but space in the saloon is limited to 12 plus accompanying adults, so booking is requested.  

Book your free tickets here.

Night mail to the North Pole

To kick off our 2026 exhibition ‘The Railway at Night’, let the Night Mail deliver your Christmas wishes to the North Pole.  Everyone who posts a letter to Santa in our travelling post office will receive a special gift courtesy of our friends and exhibition partners, Caledonian Sleeper.

Name our snow plough

The elves aren’t the only things keeping an eye (or two) on the naughty and the nice this Christmas.  Our snow plough has always been a big character at the museum and this year, it got a makeover to make it even more engaging.

Ploughs like these would be added to the front of engines at this time of year to clear snow from the line.  It was a risky business.  The engine had to travel at high speed with no idea of what might be hiding beneath often deep drifts.  It took steely determination to get the job done and this is the expression that volunteer Douglas (pictured) has captured so well.

Since it is rapidly becoming something of a social media celebrity, we thought it might be nice to name the plough and we are inviting our young visitors to make suggestions.  All names will be put in a hat and a winner will be drawn during February half term opening.  The winning entry will receive a special prize and the opportunity to visit the museum and get up close and behind the scenes with this fascinating piece of railway history.  

Submit your entries to the team at the museum desk or make suggestions to museum@srps.org.uk.  Good luck!

A special gift for all our visitors

To say thank you for all of your support throughout the year, we are giving all visitors a specially discounted rate across Christmas. 

Tickets will be only £3.00 for visitors aged 16+.  All under 16s get free entry when accompanied by an adult.  Anyone holding a valid ticket for travel on the BKR’s Santa Special also go free.  All festive family activities taking place in the museum this season are free with your museum ticket.

Book your museum tickets at the special discounted Christmas price here.  Go to our ‘Visit Us’ page to see our Christmas opening hours.