DOORS OPEN DAYS 2026

THIS DOORS OPEN DAY, STEP BEYOND THE EXHIBITS AND EXPLORE THE SKILLS AND STORIES THAT KEEP SCOTLAND’S RAILWAY HERITAGE ALIVE

It takes much more than locomotives, carriages and railway artefacts to preserve Scotland’s railway heritage for future generations. It takes people with knowledge, experience and specialist skills – people willing to share what they know and pass it on to the next generation.

This September, Doors Open Days offers a unique opportunity to discover this living heritage for yourself at the Museum of Scottish Railways in Bo’ness.

On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, from 11am to 4pm, visitors can enjoy free entry to the Museum and an opportunity to discover what happens beyond the exhibition halls.

SEE HERITAGE ENGINEERING IN ACTION IN OUR STEAMING AHEAD WORKSHOP

One of the highlights of the weekend will be the opportunity to see traditional railway engineering skills in action in our Steaming Ahead workshop.  Maintaining historic railway vehicles requires a remarkable combination of practical skills, technical knowledge and an understanding of how these machines were originally built and maintained.  Much of that knowledge cannot simply be found in a book. It is learned through experience and, importantly, passed from one person to another.

Doors Open Days gives visitors the chance to see some of that work taking place and meet the people who help keep these skills alive.  You can watch, ask questions and discover more about the work that goes on behind the scenes to care for our working collection.

OPEN THE FOOTPLATE DOOR

For many visitors, one of the most exciting opportunities will be the chance to look inside the cab of a historic steam locomotive or DMU.  Our footplate crews will be on the station platform, ready to meet visitors and share their knowledge and experience. 

The footplate door will be open, giving you the opportunity to step inside the cab and see the environment in which generations of railway crews worked.  If you’ve ever wondered what all those controls do or what life was like for crews through the years, come along and ask.  If you would like to learn the skills that connect our teams back to the earliest days of Scotland’s railways, ask about getting involved.  Our door is always open to new volunteers.

Learn about the man we call our professional grandfather here.

PLENTY TO DISCOVER

Whether you are a lifelong railway enthusiast, a family looking for something different to explore, or simply curious about the history on your doorstep, there is plenty to discover.  As well as seeing the engineering and working side of the Museum, visitors can explore the wider collection and discover some of the interactive experiences available at the Museum of Scottish Railways.

• Explore historic locomotives, carriages and wagons across the Museum’s exhibition buildings.
• Try your hand at operating the lever frames or electric control panel in our interactive signalling display.
• Step aboard the Travelling Post Office Coach and discover how mail was handled on the railway.
• Climb aboard our vintage Glasgow Subway Car.
• Take a walk through time in our historic Sleeper coaches.
• Discover the stories behind Scotland’s railway heritage through our collections and displays.
• We look forward to welcoming you and sharing Scotland’s living railway heritage with you.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing Scotland’s living railway heritage with you.