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Location notes
A small set of sidings, located behind the Halbeath Retail Park in Dunfermline (former site of Halbeath LMS loco works). The sidings are located on the Fife circle, in eastern Dunfermline.
Railway type and traffic
Once you reach the location you will be faced with five tracks. The nearest to you is a passing loop, the next two are the west and east Fife circle tracks, and the last two, i.e. furthest away, are the two sidings.
The Fife circle tracks will play host to First Scotrail class 158 and 170 DMUs, providing a 30 minute service each way during the day. The line is also an ECML diversion route, and if this happens, Virgin Voyagers and East Coast HSTs can also appear.
The sidings play host to DB Schenker class 66s pulling mega long MGR trains, to and from the Ayrshire Ports and Longannet Power station.
Once the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine line reopens in 2007, such traffic will be diverted, and it remains to be seen what will happen to the sidings.
The Fife circle tracks will play host to First Scotrail class 158 and 170 DMUs, providing a 30 minute service each way during the day. The line is also an ECML diversion route, and if this happens, Virgin Voyagers and East Coast HSTs can also appear.
The sidings play host to DB Schenker class 66s pulling mega long MGR trains, to and from the Ayrshire Ports and Longannet Power station.
Once the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine line reopens in 2007, such traffic will be diverted, and it remains to be seen what will happen to the sidings.
Environment
A location behind the retail park, the grass verge is somewhat open to the elements, and is also unsheltered from above. So, if it has been raining, dress properly, as the ground will be soggy!
Try and avoid the area after dark, not just for security reasons, but also because of the nature of the ground and the weather.
Try and avoid the area after dark, not just for security reasons, but also because of the nature of the ground and the weather.
Road directions
From the M90, come off at junction 3, for Dunfermline, and follow the signs for Dunfermline. After a short while, you will see the Halbeath Retail Park, with Focus DIY in front of you. Carry on past that roundabout, until you get to the roundabout next to the ASDA petrol station.
From Kincardine Bridge, follow signs for Dunfermline, and once in Dunfermline, follow signs for Perth M90. After a while you will pass under the railway, and cross two sets of traffic lights shortly afterwards. You will soon see the Halbeath Retail Park sign, with the list of shops.
Both routes:
Turn in at the roundabout next to the Asda Petrol station, and proceed carefully down the road. Go under the canopy, with the zebra crossing, and park as close as you can to the hedge at the back. You will not be able to park at the hedge, as this is the goods-in road, and is separated from the car park by kerbstones.
To ensure you are in the right place, you will be between ASDA and Homebase. See below for directions from the car park to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings map co-ordinates
From Kincardine Bridge, follow signs for Dunfermline, and once in Dunfermline, follow signs for Perth M90. After a while you will pass under the railway, and cross two sets of traffic lights shortly afterwards. You will soon see the Halbeath Retail Park sign, with the list of shops.
Both routes:
Turn in at the roundabout next to the Asda Petrol station, and proceed carefully down the road. Go under the canopy, with the zebra crossing, and park as close as you can to the hedge at the back. You will not be able to park at the hedge, as this is the goods-in road, and is separated from the car park by kerbstones.
To ensure you are in the right place, you will be between ASDA and Homebase. See below for directions from the car park to the location.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings map co-ordinates
Parking
Park between Homebase and Asda, and proceed towards the hedge. You should see a gap in the wire fence. This gap has not been the result of vandalism, but is a genuine gap, created to allow access to the grass verge by network rail, council grass cutters, or railway photographers!
Proceed up the gap, ensuring that you do not slip, and you will then see the sidings in front of you.
Proceed up the gap, ensuring that you do not slip, and you will then see the sidings in front of you.
Public transport
Stagecoach Fife provide all services past the retail park. These are 15, 19, X24, X26, 33, X54. Please ask for Lauder College, as the X24 and X54 only stop here, and not at other stops.
From the bus stops, head for the Asda roundabout, and down to the gap between Asda and Homebase. Then follow directions from Parking.
The nearest rail station is Dunfermline Queen Margaret. From the station, proceed down the hill to the traffic lights, and turn left. Walk up the road till you get to the Asda roundabout. Follow directions from Parking. This walk will take at least 10 minutes.
See the First Scotrail for train times and fares.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
From the bus stops, head for the Asda roundabout, and down to the gap between Asda and Homebase. Then follow directions from Parking.
The nearest rail station is Dunfermline Queen Margaret. From the station, proceed down the hill to the traffic lights, and turn left. Walk up the road till you get to the Asda roundabout. Follow directions from Parking. This walk will take at least 10 minutes.
See the First Scotrail for train times and fares.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Asda is open 24 hours, but it should be noted that the Mcdonalds restaurant in the supermarket is not. There is a chip shop just up from the Lauder college, next to the car cleaning place. Proceed back up towards the Focus diy roundabout, and head into the housing scheme.
Accommodation
Walking along from Queen Margaret station, you will pass a Bed and Breakfast. Otherwise, try VisitScotland.com
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.
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings
Streetmap links
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings general view map
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings
Googly map
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings general view map
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Dunfermline, Halbeath EWS Shunting sidings
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The line runs on an east west axis, so the sun will be on your right in the morning, your left later in the day.
If you have a video camera, you will capture the sounds of the trains no problem, as the road noise is, surprisingly, covered by the hedges. You will need to stand away from the fence, whether shooting a video, or taking pictures, as the verge dips down towards the fence.
If you have a video camera, you will capture the sounds of the trains no problem, as the road noise is, surprisingly, covered by the hedges. You will need to stand away from the fence, whether shooting a video, or taking pictures, as the verge dips down towards the fence.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking north
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
