http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Einstein A Go Go (aka Bo’ness thread) en Tue, 19 May 2026 07:18:03 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-350598 Tue, 11 May 2021 22:43:03 +0000 chdot 350598@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://twitter.com/HippFestScot/status/1388429248705318913" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/HippFestScot/status/1388429248705318913</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349663 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 17:19:06 +0000 gembo 349663@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@medium Dave yes looked like a private cafe for proper grafters up on the decks at the Bo’ness yards. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349655 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 14:16:57 +0000 MediumDave 349655@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My mate has his (non nautical) workshop in the Bo'ness yards. A nice hive of artisan activity despite the powerful gangster energy of the place </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349648 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:34:52 +0000 gembo 349648@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@mandopicker love The Hippodrome</p> <p>@Frenchy get on to the Carriden Society and see if they can update the benches?</p> <p>Around the benches kids had placed Scallop schells and an oyster shell. Beach a little scuzzy tho at the Bo’ness end as still a bit of work in the boat yards </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349640 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:42:30 +0000 chdot 349640@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/boness/boness/index.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/boness/boness/index.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349639 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:39:50 +0000 chdot 349639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CCE visit with ‘local’ guide?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349638 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:38:03 +0000 steveo 349638@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not sure I've ever been to down town Bo'ness been to the railway and dig in at the Dock a few times. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349637 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:32:19 +0000 chdot 349637@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“No exposure to downtown Bo'ness really required.“</p> <p>Yeah I suspected that was the reality/issue. </p> <p>That’s the advantage of arriving by bike - ability and innate interest in ‘exploring’. </p> <p>Businesses (not just Bo’ness) should be more aware/encouraging. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349634 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:56:01 +0000 Mandopicker101 349634@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot - some work did happen, primarily the redevelopment of 1930s tenements (known locally as the Queen Mary, since they went up in the same year as the iconic passenger liner...or coffin blocks for reasons I've forgotten). The centerpiece redevelopment/restoration of the harbour area ran into issues - economic crumbling generally but also the thick mud that fills the basin seals a delicious soup of creosote, benzene and other wonderfully toxic chemicals, the result of many years of cargo traffic. At that point, clean up costs exploded and ING suddenly lost impetus.</p> <p>That said, the foreshore area has a nicely laid out path network that makes for nice cycling. There's even lighting inset into the paving in places. Development of trails in Kinneil Woods, the CX action at the dock (which hopefully might return) and being part of the Round The Forth Sustrans route are all positives. But...you kinda need cold hard cash too.</p> <p>The railway is the primary attraction in town, staffed mainly by volunteers. In pre viral times, the railway offered a complete visitor experience - go on a train plus eat and shop. No exposure to downtown Bo'ness really required. Other than to drive in/out. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349630 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:23:25 +0000 chdot 349630@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“A very significant regeneration of the town centre in the naughties hit the rocks of the economic crash as the major investor ING suddenly found they needed their pocket money.“</p> <p>Interesting. </p> <p>I remember the (apparent) change of fortune and a town about to reinvent itself. </p> <p>The (mostly) steam railway was/is a great asset for drawing people but presumably not a great source of direct employment. </p> <p>“needs sustained investment in wider infrastructure, which the local authority doesn't have since it's contending with a lot of other post industrial communities“</p> <p>Very true. </p> <p><em>Part</em> of the problem now is that the Big (Lottery) money went to The Helix. Nearby, but...</p> <p>“</p> <p>Falkirk Council led a Big Lottery Living Landmarks bid in partnership with British Waterways (Scotland) and Central Scotland Forest Trust. In 2007 the consortium were successful in their application, which saw 316 entries and 3 winners, with The Helix receiving an award of £25m. This award was the first of its kind in Scotland through the programme, and the largest ever awarded by BIG to individual projects at the time. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Helix_(Falkirk)" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Helix_(Falkirk)</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349629 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:12:25 +0000 chdot 349629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/boness-bowling-club-blaze-emergency-services-remain-at-the-grange-terrace-scene-after-terrible-fire-at-local-bowling-club-3202859" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/boness-bowling-club-blaze-emergency-services-remain-at-the-grange-terrace-scene-after-terrible-fire-at-local-bowling-club-3202859</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349628 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:50:47 +0000 Frenchy 349628@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There is a back to back bench that simulates the benches of the SS Belgenland on which Einstein left Europe for America.</em></p> <p>I didn't know about this, so was <a href="http://www.shapell.org/manuscript/einstein-renounces-german-citizenship-becomes-outlaw-in-nazi-germany/">looking more into it</a>. Small correction: Einstein was <em>returning</em> from America to Germany on the Belgenland in 1933. </p> <p>Whilst on board, he heard that the Nazis, who had come to power shortly before he left, had raided his houses whilst he was away. He therefore got off the boat in Belgium and renounced his German citizenship.</p> <p>In response, Hitler had Einstein's money and property confiscated and released a photograph of him captioned "Not yet hanged."</p> <p>Chilling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349625 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 07:43:33 +0000 Mandopicker101 349625@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Gembo - Speaking as a Bo'ness lad (who lives elsewhere but returns often to visit his Covid bubble), I can only agree with your assertions, albeit quite sadly. The cycle route from Edinburgh really is fab. I love spotting deer in the Hopetoun estate.</p> <p>Bo'ness has an impressive roll call of history - Roman frontier, a quite exquisite Hamilton palace, strong associations with James Watt &amp; industrial innovation, oldest purpose built cinema - but capitalising on that needs sustained investment in wider infrastructure, which the local authority doesn't have since it's contending with a lot of other post industrial communities. A very significant regeneration of the town centre in the naughties hit the rocks of the economic crash as the major investor ING suddenly found they needed their pocket money. That there's only one (small) pub open in the town centre, in the quintessential 'Auld Man's Pub' style, says much. The town centre chippy shuts at 7. Even the local paper shut it's office in town. </p> <p>Visit on the Bo'ness Fair Day though and the place is just thrumming with life! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349528 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:13:57 +0000 gembo 349528@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At the Mannerstons Garden Centre, yesterday, we were encouraged to exercise our rights and cycle down a very straight private road. We were really just checking if the coffee shop was open. The more upmarket one across from it, is well and truly shut (it has a farm shop thought might be open) </p> <p>Anyway local worthy also described Bo’ness as the Blackpool of the North. Not quite right. More the Fleetwood of the North </p> <p>Lot of manhole covers still made in Bo’ness but used to be a heavy industry powerhouse. Now alas a bit of a a sh1thole. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20554#post-349511 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 18:24:18 +0000 gembo 349511@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Took my old boss whom I coached into cycling upon his retrial out to Bo’ness today.</p> <p>Out of south queens, dead end road into Hopetoun, through estate and down to Abercorn Kirk. looked at Ian Hamilton Finlay grave, forest track to Blackness and seaside path to Bo’ness.</p> <p>There is a back to back bench that simulates the benches of the SS Belgenland on which Einstein left Europe for America. Bo’ness likes to celebrate this fact because the SS Belgenland was broken up at the end of its service in Bo’ness. </p>