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Written by Peter Kellett - 15 Feb 2004
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Location notes
Located to the west of Dunfermline.
The branch starts at Charlestown Junction just to the south of the viaduct at Dunfermline Town station and runs downhill past Elbowend Junction where the mothballed line to the MOD Armament Depot at Crombie branches to the south.The line continues through the villages of Crossford and Cairneyhill
It then it runs alongside the Firth of Forth at the villages of Torryburn and Newmills. The branch then turns inland for a short stretch when the ash lagoons separate the line from the shore running by the side of a small collection of cottages known as Low Valleyfield, once entering the ancient village of Culross (pronounced Coo-russ) when it regains the shore until turning to bisect the power station.
Railway type and traffic
There is no passenger service on this line
Single line from Charlestown Junction until the start of the power station unloading roads.
Traffic is now made up of DB Schenker Class 66’s hauling HAA type mgr wagons. It takes about twenty minutes from an empty train passing you at Culross to the earliest chance of a full one coming the other way as there are a number of 10 m.p.h restrictions on the branch.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Very rural once clear of Dunfermline.
Road directions
From the Forth Road bridge
Take the first exit (Junction 1) after crossing into Fife, sign posted North Queensferry and Rosyth. Take the second exit at this roundabout and the first exit at the following roundabout, sign posted for Rosyth Euro Terminal. Continue on this road until you reach a third roundabout , take the second exit (Hilton Road) and continue along this road, passing the Royal Naval Shore establishment HMS CALEDONIA on your left hand side until you reach yet another roundabout. Take the second exit here and less than 100 yards you come to a T junction, turn left onto the A985 and follow this road until you pass under the mothballed line to Crombie Armament Depot, turn right up a side road signposted Crossford. This road goes under the Longannet Branch. When you reach a set of traffic lights, here turn left onto the A994 and continue for about two miles into Cairneyhill village passing a petrol station (not cheap) on your right and a pub called The Maltings again on your right. Turn left into Muirside Lane about 100 yards past the pub, this lane has quite a number of potholes so drive slowly. Continue along to the end of this lane, which crossed the railway. Where it makes a T junction with the A985, turn right and follow the road to a large roundabout. Take the first exit onto the B9037. The location is the first railway bridge. It is easy to spot as the bridge has been painted with the old coal sub sector logo, black diamonds on a yellow background for those new to the hobby since privatisation :o)

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Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge map co-ordinates
Parking
There is plenty of parking space on the left just over the bridge.
Public transport
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Amenities
The closest facilities will be back at Cairneyhill village where there are two village shops, a coffee shop with home baking in the garden centre, two pubs and a petrol station, no public toilets.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge

Googly map
Streetmap links
Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge general view map
Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Longannet - Sub Sector Bridge



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Railway Gen Group
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Photographic notes
Another location is an occupation bridge on the left hand side of the road visible from the sub sector bridge (Fig 3), and another photographic spot is just a bit further along the road where you can see a track passing under the railway (Figures 4 and 5)


General views - All photographs © Peter Kellett unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east


Fig 1 - Looking east

Shadows from the banks???

Fig 2 - Looking west


Fig 2 - Looking west


Fig 3 - Looking east


Fig 3 - Looking east

From Occupation bridge.

Fig 4 - Looking west


Fig 4 - Looking west

From the overbridge near Torryburn

Fig 5 - Looking west



Fig 5 - Looking west

From the overbridge near Torryburn

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