The collection at Bo'ness represents Scottish railways from their dawn in the early 19th century to items just out of service on the main line. There are vehicles from each of the pre-1923 Scottish railway companies, from the days of the LMS and the LNER between the wars, and a great deal of material from British Railways days, including a fine collection of diesel locomotives from the 1955 Modernisation Plan.

All the major Scottish locomotive and rolling stock builders are represented, and a wide range of heavy industries once served by rail.