Kelty

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Kelty (1860-1930)

Opened on the Kinross-shire Railway.

Description

This station is closed. It was an island platform station located on what became the main line between Edinburgh Waverley and Perth in 1890 with the opening of the Forth Bridge, a new connection from Cowdenbeath (New) and line through Glenfarg. The station was east of the village of Kelty. It was originally a local station on the line from Cowdenbeath (Old) to Kinross [2nd]. Like Kinross Junction [2nd] and Thornton Junction the main station building was not on the platform and the station was reached by footbridge. The building at Kelty was immediately west of the running lines with a footbridge over the line to the platform and Aitken Colliery. On the island platform was a timber canopied waiting room building. The platform itself was built in timber and was reduced to a low mound after closure to passengers.

To the immediate north was Kelty North Junction (to Blairenbathie Colliery, Perth and Thornton Junction via Lochore Colliery Mary Pit) and to the south was Kelty South Junction (to Dunfermline Upper via Lilliehill Junction, Edinburgh Waverley via Cowdenbeath (New), and via Lumphinnans North Junction to Cowdenbeath (Old) and Lochgelly). Combining these, the station was on a six way junction surrounded by coal mines. To the north of the north junction was Kelty Yard. The Aitken Colliery (and its washery, used by several local pits) immediately adjoined the railway on its east side.

The station closed in 1930. Passenger traffic had been lost to the Dunfermline and District Tramways which reached Kelty from Cowdenbeath in 1910. Unlike the station, which was on the far east edge of Kelty, the tramline reached right into the centre.

A building from the station, dating from 1866, has been moved to Loch Leven Pier. The Boat House Loch Leven

Nothing remains of the station on site, there has been considerable landscaping of both the former railway and coal mines in this area. A small dirt carpark is at the end of the access road, Station road, which formerly ran to the station. The main running lines of the railway were to the immediate east of the carpark and the station was to the south east in a now featureless field. Not entirely featureless - there is a electricity substation which was at the Aitken Colliery, on the east side of the line.

Tags

Station

External links

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




Chronology Dates

  /  /1862Lochore Branch (North British Railway)
Kelty to Lochore and Kirkness opened.
  /  /1863West of Fife Railway and Harbour
Line extended from Lassodie Mill Colliery (Viewfield Colliery) to Kelty by North British Railway.
30/07/1866Devon Valley Railway
Blairenbathie and Blairadam Collieries Branch (North British Railway)
Devon Valley Railway Act gives permission for a branch from Rumbling Bridge [1st] to Wattie's Ford Bridge and an extension from there to Kelty on the Kinross-shire Railway, much of what was later used for the Blairenbathie and Blairadam Collieries Branch (North British Railway). Another branch to Newhall near Solsgirth also approved. Branches not built.
  /  /1919Lochore and Redford Extension (North British Railway)
Lochore Branch extended from Kinglassie Colliery to Redford Junction, forming a long mineral railway running from Kelty to Redford Junction serving several collieries.
22/09/1930Kinross-shire Railway
Kelty and Blairadam stations closed.
  /  /1963West of Fife Railway and Harbour
Kelty Disposal Point (Lassodie) to Lassodie North Junction to Kelty (excluded) closed.
06/01/1964Blairenbathie and Blairadam Collieries Branch (North British Railway)
Blairenbathie Colliery to Kelty (excluded) closed.
  /  /1970Lochore Branch (North British Railway)
Lochore Colliery Mary Pit to Kelty (excluded) closed.
12/07/1972Kinross-shire Railway
Kelty to Cowdenbeath (North British Railway)
Kelty Coup (by former Kelty station) to Cowdenbeath North Junction (excluded) closed to freight.

News items

26/05/2021Kelty: Plan for holiday lodges and cafe at old railway site [Dunfermline Press]

Books


Forgotten Railways: Scotland