Burntisland

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Burntisland (1890-)

Station code: BTS National Rail ScotRail
Where: Fife, Scotland
Opened on the Aberdour Line (North British Railway).
Open on the Fife Circle.
Open on the Edinburgh to Perth.
Open on the Edinburgh to Dundee.

Description

This is a two platform station which opened with the Aberdour Line (North British Railway) approach to the Forth Bridge. The station replaced the Burntisland [1st] terminal which is adjoining to its immediate south.

The westbound platform building has a wooden canopy and there is an unusual style of stone waiting shelter on the eastbound platform. The original northbound building, which was similar to the southbound, no longer stands. The station is on a curve taking the railway from the approach to the original station west, round the harbour, to Aberdour. The station was refurbished in 1986 and 2001.


Development of the Burntisland Area


In 1847 the railway opened, originally approached from the east from Burntisland Junction. This was the division between the lines to Burntisland [1st] and the harbour lines. By the station was Burntisland Albert Pier, the pier for the ferry service to Granton Pier. Alongside this the world's first train ferry ran. To its east were the railway's Burntisland Works.

A quayside and pier was also built south of the station, stretching out south west from Lammerlaws.

The Burntisland West Dock opened in 1876 replacing the old Mud Harbour and Herring Craig.

Burntisland Junction changed in 1890 with the opening of the Aberdour Line (North British Railway) which connected the main line north to the new Forth Bridge. Train ferries ceased to run, but ferries continued running.

After 1901 Burntisland East Dock opened, a substancial rebuilding of the eastern part of the harbour as a dock. The approach was via Lammerlaws Yard and Burntisland East Dock. The Burntisland Albert Pier was replaced with Burntisland New Pier.

In 1917 the Burntisland Aluminium Works opened to the west, onthe line to Aberdour. West of Burntisland West Dock the Burntisland Shipyard opened in 1918.

Local

The Artline - Art and Heritage on the railway in Fife

Tags

Station

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67

Facilities

Listing: C




Nearby stations
Burntisland [1st]
Kinghorn
Aberdour
Kirkcaldy
Donibristle Platform
Granton
Dalgety Bay
Granton Gasworks [Station]
Cowdenbeath (Old)
Trinity [1st]
Newhaven [Tram]
Trinity [2nd]
Cowdenbeath
Ocean Terminal [Tram]
Newhaven
Burntisland East Dock
Burntisland Viaduct
Burntisland West Dock
Burntisland Control Bunker
Lammerlaws Yard
Burntisland Junction
Burntisland Works
Burntisland Shipyard
Burntisland East Junction
Burntisland Aluminium Works
Colinswell Siding
Tourist/other
Burntisland New Pier
Burntisland Albert Pier
Rossend Castle
Newbiggin Signal Box [2nd]
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


Burntisland Station plaque


A plaque, dating from 1986, is mounted on the northbound platform building at the present (2nd) station. It reads:

Burntisland's first station was opened in 1847 by the Edinburgh and Northern Railway with a ferry to Granton and thence by train to Edinburgh. The world's first train ferry service started on this route in 1850. It ended in 1890 when the Forth Bridge opened with a new link line to Burntisland on which the present station was built.


Chronology Dates

28/05/1838Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway
Victoria Jetty, Granton opened for traffic to Burntisland.
31/07/1845Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Act receives Royal assent. Mainline from Burntisland to Perth via Ladybank. Branches from Ladybank to Cupar and Kirkcaldy to the harbour. The Perth station was to be beside the Dundee and Perth Railway station.
17/09/1847Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Opened from Burntisland to Lindores and Cupar. Stations at Burntisland [1st], Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Sinclairtown, Dysart, Thornton, Markinch, Falkland Road, Kingskettle, Ladybank, Collessie, Lindores [1st], Springfield and Cupar.
08/07/1998Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Derailment at Burntisland.

News items

20/09/2023New push to secure backing for improved access at busy Fife train station [Fife Today]
02/08/2023Death of Stuart Sellar []
11/06/2023Train services resume to Fife and Dundee after earlier fault closed the line [The Courier]
03/02/2023Fife Circle rail services to be reviewed by ScotRail [Dunfermline Press]
04/10/2022Rare chance to see impressive model of Burntisland's past [Fife Today]
25/03/2022Board the Mayflower steam train at Edinburgh Waverley for a food trip to Fife [Fife Today]
16/02/2022Vandals destroy shelter at Fife station beyond repair [Fife Today]
23/11/2021Railway line near Burntisland reopens after inspection of unsafe wall [The Courier]
25/10/2021Leo Du Feu: Artist opens studio in Burntisland train station to the public [Fife Today]
23/07/2021Fife train services returning to normal after lorry strikes bridge in Burntisland [The Courier]

Books


Burntisland: Fife's Railway Port (Locomotion papers)