Leslie Railway

Introduction

This line is closed, although a portion remains, out of use, between Markinch and the Auchmuty Paper Mills. It is likely this section will be closed and lifted. It is possible the closed route will become a cycleway.






Dates

  /  /1857Leslie Railway
Act receives Royal assent
  /  /1872Leslie RailwayNorth British Railway
Leslie Railway absorbed by North British Railway.
02/01/1932Leslie Railway
Leslie to Markinch closed to passengers.
04/01/1932Leslie Railway
Leslie to Markinch closed to passengers (alternative date).
09/10/1967Leslie Railway
Leslie to Auchmuty Junction closed to freight.
  /  /1992Leslie Railway
Thornton Marshalling Yard and Rothes Pit (British Railways)
Auchmuty Paper Mill branch from Markinch closed. Bulk starch traffic transferred to new freight depot within Thornton Yard and carried by road to the works.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This is a two platform station with a car park on the west side. The original station building, by architect David Bell, sill stands, a three storey building with the top two floors at road level and ground floor at platform level. There were timber waiting rooms at platform level. A large retaining wall runs down the east side of the station.
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More details

See also
Edinburgh and Northern Railway
170413 calls at Markinch, with the 14.27 from Perth to Edinburgh, alongside 170428 with the 14.00 from Edinburgh to Dundee on 10 October 2023.
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Bill Roberton 10/10/2023
170413 nears Markinch with the 14.27 from Perth to Edinburgh on 10 October 2023.
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Bill Roberton 10/10/2023
The 15.30 from Edinburgh to Aberdeen passes Markinch on 12th July 2021, powered by 43175 and 43028. To the left is the relay room.
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Bill Roberton 12/07/2021
1Q26, the Network Rail measurement train running from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, then Slateford, passes Markinch powered by 43274 and 43277 on 10 October ...
Bill Roberton 10/10/2023
4 of 103 images. more


This junction was between the Leslie Railway and its Auchmuty Paper Mill branch, both single track lines. It was located to the west of Markinch.
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More details
Passing the former Auchmuty Junction, with the trackbed of the Leslie branch diverging to the left. Seen from the 'Tay Forth Venturer' railtour on ...
Bill Roberton 16/06/1984
Base of an old signal post at Auchmuty Junction, Glenrothes, on the former Leslie branch. Photographed on 29 January 2011. See image 32587
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David Panton 29/01/2011
This appears to have been the site of the signal box at Auchmuty
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David Panton 29/01/2011
The Leslie branch remained open for goods until 1967, long enough for much of Glenrothes New Town to be built round it and for the line to be bridged ...
David Panton 29/01/2011
4 of 6 images. more


This was a single platform terminus.
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More details
The site of Leslie Station looking west in 1997. The passenger platform was on the right. Prinlaws Mills in the the background left and in front of ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
Looking east at Leslie in 1966 along the line serving Fettykil Paper Mill, with the east sidings of Leslie goods yard at a slightly higher level on ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1966
J38 0-6-0 no 65915 shunting the yard at Leslie after bringing in the freight from Thornton in 1966. The Leslie branch closed to all traffic a year ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1966
J38 no 65921 shunting at Leslie, Fife, in the mid sixties. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1966
4 of 12 images. more