Rothes Pit
Location type
MineName and dates
Rothes Pit (1957-1969)Served by the Thornton Marshalling Yard and Rothes Pit (British Railways).
Description
This was a largely unsuccessful colliery built on a grand scale. Sinking of this colliery began under the Fife Coal Co Ltd and it was developed as a 'Superpit' by the National Coal Board. Also known as Rothes Colliery.
The first sod was cut in 1946, sinking began in 1949 and production began in 1957.
The site was railway served - a dedicated branch extending east from Thornton Yard, developed around the same time, to the mine. After leaving the yard this branch immediately reached the exchange yard and continued east, past a weighbridge, to sidings by the bunkers and winding frames. There was a secondary connection from opposite Thornton Shed [2nd], the two approaches meeting east of the colliery.
The planned expansion to work coal below 333 fathoms was abandoned in 1962, the mine going out of operation. It was abandoned in 1969.
The branch from Thornton Yard was lifted, however the secondary connection remained in place, out of use, until the mid 1990s.
The winding towers, which enclosed the winding frames, were demolished in March 1993.
The new town of Glenrothes was established to the north to provide the staff for the mine.
Tags
Mine colliery superpitAliases
Glenrothes Pit Rothes Colliery
| Nearby stations Glenrothes with Thornton Thornton Junction Thornton Junction [W&BR] West Wemyss Dysart Sinclairtown [1st] Sinclairtown [2nd] Markinch Leslie Kirkcaldy Wemyss Castle Cardenden Cameron Bridge [1st] Buckhaven Cameron Bridge | Thornton Shed [2nd] Fife Railway Wagon Works Thornton West Junction Balbeggie Farm Open Cast Ore Bridge Works (Flax) Thornton Colliery Redford Junction Thornton Wagon Works Middlefield Engine House Thornton West Junction [1st] Thornton Scrapyard Redford Siding Lochty Bleachfield Works Orrsmill Pit Tourist/other Thornton Yard Signal Box |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
