Aberdour Line (North British Railway)
Introduction
This line is open. The line runs from Inverkeithing to Burntisland and was opened in connection with the Forth Bridge Railway. It was built for the North British Railway. It carries both passengers and freight. Today it forms part of the East Coast Main Line.
Why built
This line was built as part of the general improvements opened with the Forth Bridge Railway. This provided a new route from Queensferry to Thornton which has been the mainline since opening.
Service
The line is served by both long distance limited stop trains and long distance services.
Dates
| 02/06/1890 | Aberdour Line (North British Railway) Aberdour opened. |
| /05/1964 | Aberdour Line (North British Railway) Aberdour closed to goods. |
| /05/1997 | Aberdour Line (North British Railway) MJ Gleeson PLC awarded the contract to build the £1.7M Dalgety Bay station. |
| /03/1998 | Aberdour Line (North British Railway) Dalgety Bay station opened. It cost £1.5 million. |
| /02/2011 | Aberdour Line (North British Railway) Railway Heritage Trust makes contribution to the costs of renovation of the former signal box to become at small cafe and exhibition area. |
Route described
The line runs from a triangular junction at Inverkeithing to Burntisland where the terminus platforms became bay platforms at a through station.
Portions of line and locations
This line is divided into a number of portions.
Inverkeithing to Burntisland
From Inverkeithing Central Junction to Burntisland.
This junction is north of Inverkeithing station and opened for the opening of the Forth Bridge. It forms the southern apex of a triangle of lines. The reverse curves travelled by a train following the main line betray that the original route here was from Dunfermline to Queensferry.
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See also
Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
Bill Roberton 25/04/2017
David Panton 16/06/2021
Bill Roberton 30/07/2022
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Bill Roberton 30/07/2022
This forms the east part of a triangular junction. The main line runs south to Inverkeithing Central Junction and a single track loop line (formerly double) runs west to Inverkeithing North Junction. The signal box here closed in 1979, being taken over by the Edinburgh Signalling Centre. The box was in the 'V' of the junction. A loop was added on the westbound line east of the ...
More details
Bill Roberton 08/10/2023
Bill Roberton 29/09/2023
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Bill Roberton 03/08/2023
Bill Roberton 05/06/2023
This is a two platform station. ...
More details
Bill Roberton 17/01/2024
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Bill Roberton 07/07/2022
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Bill Roberton 18/10/2022
Bill Roberton 10/07/2023
This two platform halt served Donibristle Airfield which was to the south. The site of the halt was east of today's Dalgety Bay station and where the Fordell Railway passed underneath.
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Bill Roberton 07/08/2023
Bill Roberton 12/06/2023
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Bill Roberton 13/12/2020
Bill Roberton 14/07/2021
Bill Roberton 15/10/2021
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Bill Roberton 31/07/2021
Bill Roberton 16/06/2021
Bill Roberton 01/07/2017
This signal box was between Donibristle Halt (just east of today's Dalgety Bay) and Aberdour. The box was on the south side of the line by Meikle Couston. There was a trailing cross over. ...
More detailsThis is a two platform station. The main station building, one storey with canopy, is on the up (southbound) platform. A small stone waiting shelter also remains on the down platform. The station is located in Aberdour itself.
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Bill Roberton 04/09/2023
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Bill Roberton 03/07/2023
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Bill Roberton 10/08/2023
This was an interchange loading point with the Carron Company (Carron Iron Works) Newbigging Limestone Mine. It was west of Burntisland on the shoreline..
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David Bosher 14/03/2019
Bill Roberton 10/10/2023
Bill Roberton 30/01/2023
Bill Roberton 30/01/2023
This signal box was on the north side of the railway. It opened in advance of the opening of the Burntisland Aluminium Works whose sidings were to the east. Approach to the sidings was from the east and there was a crossover, allowing trains to approach from Burntisland Harbour.
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This works did not produce aluminium but alumina which was then passed on to aluminium works to be converted into aluminium.
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Bill Roberton //1985
Bill Roberton //1983
Bill Roberton //1983
Bill Roberton //1983
This is a two platform station which opened with the Aberdour Line (North British Railway) approach to the Forth Bridge. The station replaced the Burntisland [1st] terminal which is adjoining to its immediate south.
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Bill Roberton //1990
Bill Roberton 12/08/2021
Brian Haslehust 04/09/1964
Mark Bartlett 05/08/2021
Inverkeithing Curve
Inverkeithing North Junction to Inverkeithing East Junction.
This forms the north part of a triangular junction. The main line runs south to Inverkeithing Central Junction and a single track loop line (formerly double) runs east to Inverkeithing East Junction. The signal box here closed in 1979, being taken over by the Edinburgh Signalling Centre. The box was on the north side of the junction. ...
More detailsSee also
Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway
Ewan Crawford 28/12/2004
John Clark 16/02/2006
Bill Roberton 19/03/2017
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) 23/03/1963
This forms the east part of a triangular junction. The main line runs south to Inverkeithing Central Junction and a single track loop line (formerly double) runs west to Inverkeithing North Junction. The signal box here closed in 1979, being taken over by the Edinburgh Signalling Centre. The box was in the 'V' of the junction. A loop was added on the westbound line east of the ...
More detailsBill Roberton 08/10/2023
Bill Roberton 29/09/2023
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Bill Roberton 03/08/2023
Bill Roberton 05/06/2023
