Rosyth Dockyard Branch (North British Railway)

Introduction

This single track railway serves the Naval Base at Rosyth. Formerly some of the route was double track and the sidings at the terminus have been considerably cut back.




Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Original Route

The temporary way, used for construction, is still partly in use. This hugged the coastline in the Limpet Ness area.

101 311 passes underneath Jamestown Viaduct, with a workers train from Rosyth Dockyard to Kirkcaldy in 1986.
...
Bill Roberton //1986
The Rosyth Dockyard branch beneath Jamestown Viaduct on 15 May 2023. A weekday return trip down the branch is shown in the system in 2023. Aye right ...
Bill Roberton 15/05/2023
The overbridge on the Rosyth Dockyard branch, situated just to the
...
David Panton 16/01/2011
The loop and former scrap siding (lifted) at Naval Base Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 6 images. more


The Rosyth Dockyard branch with the M90 in the background, on 10 June 2014, as work continues on the Queensferry Crossing approaches. The main line ...
Bill Roberton 10/06/2014
View east from the B980 on 29 February 2012 showing the Rosyth Dockyard branch tunnel under the A90 Forth Road Bridge approach road. ...
Bill Roberton 29/02/2012
2 of 2 images.


This was the junction between the original course of the Rosyth branch, following the coastline, and the later alignment which made use of reclaimed land upon which the dockyard was built. The signal box was on the north side of junction.
...

More details
Looking west to Rosyth Dockyard in May 1989. The branch line curves in to the left, this being a later, direct route over reclaimed land. The ...
Bill Roberton /05/1989
Looking west to Rosyth from Ferryhills. ...
Ewan Crawford //
2 of 2 images.






The former coal bunkers at Rosyth Dockyard for the Naval Fleet were built on the site of Rosyth Quarry, used in connection with the construction of the Naval Base. The bunkers have now been demolished. ...

More details


This was an island platform station with a narrow platform. The platform has been removed but the seldom used railway remains. The station and line served the HM Rosyth Dockyard.
...

More details
170404 receiving attention at Babcock's, Rosyth, in 2009. The firm had previously undertaken work on 158 and 159 units but after the 170s there were ...
Bill Roberton //2009
Disused Planet 4wDM with panels of track in the background. 1990 ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Thomas Hill 'Vanguard' thought to be for repair by Babcock Engineering. Taken on Navy Day 1990. ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Entering Rosyth Dockyard with a shuttle service from Inverkeithing on a 'Navy Day' in the 1990s. ...
Bill Roberton //
4 of 29 images. more





Realigned route

Following considerable land reclamation in the Limpet Ness area, the line was re-routed to run directly from Limpet Ness into the dockyard. This is the route which remains open today.

This was the junction between the original course of the Rosyth branch, following the coastline, and the later alignment which made use of reclaimed land upon which the dockyard was built. The signal box was on the north side of junction.
...

More details
Looking west to Rosyth Dockyard in May 1989. The branch line curves in to the left, this being a later, direct route over reclaimed land. The ...
Bill Roberton /05/1989
Looking west to Rosyth from Ferryhills. ...
Ewan Crawford //
2 of 2 images.


This was an island platform station with a narrow platform. The platform has been removed but the seldom used railway remains. The station and line served the HM Rosyth Dockyard.
...

More details
170404 receiving attention at Babcock's, Rosyth, in 2009. The firm had previously undertaken work on 158 and 159 units but after the 170s there were ...
Bill Roberton //2009
Disused Planet 4wDM with panels of track in the background. 1990 ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Thomas Hill 'Vanguard' thought to be for repair by Babcock Engineering. Taken on Navy Day 1990. ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Entering Rosyth Dockyard with a shuttle service from Inverkeithing on a 'Navy Day' in the 1990s. ...
Bill Roberton //
4 of 29 images. more