DMU Operations: Scottish Region
Edinburgh - Cowdenbeath / Cardenden
DMUs operated the services from Edinburgh Waverley to Cowdenbeath, with some peak hour services extended to Cardenden. On bank holidays in the 1980s the latter would often be loco hauled.
The service would eventually become part of the Fife Circle service.
Sample Timetables
6 May 1974 to 4 May 1975
This measured 3" x 4" when folded
10 Jan, 1977 to 1 May, 1977
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
2 May, 1977 to 7 May, 1978
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
3 October, 1977 to 7 May, 1978
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
8 May, 1978 to 13 May, 1979
This measured 3" x 4" when folded
2 October, 1978 to 13 May, 1979
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
14 May, 1979 until further notice (revised edition)
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
12 May, 1980 to 10 May, 1981
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
1 June, 1981 to 16 May, 1982
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
5 October, 1981 to 16 May, 1982
This measured 2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
4 October, 1982 to 15 May, 1983
This measured 3" x 4" when folded
Images
3rd August 1974
A Cravens unit in Dunfermline Lower station on 3rd August 1974 having just arrived from Edinburgh. Pete LG99.
1976
A Cravens DMBS is at the front of this hybrid set (numbered 21) containing three brake vans entering Dunfermline Lower station in 1976. The second vehicle is a Met-Camm TBS, and at the rear is a Met-Camm DMBS. John Law.
Unknown date
Possibly mid to late 1970s, a class 101 Metro-Cammell diesel unit is seen at Cowdenbeath station, which still sported totem station signs at the time. Jeremy Chapter.
7th July 1978
Forming a Cowdenbeath to Edinburgh Waverley train, Metropolitan-Cammell (TOPS Class 101) 3-car DMU No. 235 approaches Inverkeithing Central Junction on 7th July, 1978. Michael Laing.
circa 1979
A mixed livery Class 101 DMU departs from Edinburgh Waverley with a Cowdenbeath service circa 1979. Stuart Mackay Collection.
21st April 1979
Three-car Class 101 DMU set 231 passes Cowdenbeath North signal box as it enters the station on 21 April 1979, probably after changing platforms ready to return to Edinburgh Waverley. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd July 1979
Class 101 DMBS passes Halbeath Crossing (beside Dunfermline Townhill depot) on 23 July 1979, probably on an Edinburgh Waverley - Cowdenbeath service. Brian Daniels.
circa early 1981
Met-Camm DMBS SC50292 leads DMU set 101303 past Townhill Junction (near Dunfermline) circa 1981. Paul Redmond.
circa 1981
Met-Camm DMU set 101304 with SC50241 closest seen at Townhill Junction (near Dunfermline) circa 1981. Paul Redmond.
circa 1981
Class 101 DMU set 101303 with SC50184 closest approaching Townhill Junction circa 1981. Paul Redmond.
circa 1981
Class 101 DMU set 101303 with SC50184 closest at Townhill Junction (near Dunfermline) circa 1981. Paul Redmond.
16th September 1981
Met-Camm DMU set 101307 with 51231 nearest the camera at Cowdenbeath on 16th September 1981. David Scott.
5th October 1981
A late evening service for Cowdenbeath formed of 101303 waits to leave Edinburgh Waverley. 5th October 1981. The DMBS is presumably 50292. Bruce Galloway.
20th October 1981
Westbound departures from Haymarket in Edinburgh were always a good bet for a spirited sprint to Saughton Junction where westbound and Fife bound services diverged. Here, a pair of flat out Met-Camm 101 units working 2C15 1518 Edinburgh to Cowdenbeath (101303 on the left) and 2H57 1517 Edinburgh to Dunblane (set 329 on the right, presumably with 51455 leading) pass Haymarket depot. Still, 1/250th will stop 'em... 20th October 1981. Bruce Galloway.
5th April 1983
With the roof vents removed from all three vehicles, TBS set 101364 (53242 leading, presumably with 59080 and 53268) is seen at Inverkeithing Junction coming from the Rosyth direction with an Edinburgh service on the 5th April 1983. Stuart Mackay.
6th April 1983
Set 101 304 arriving at Dunfermline Lower station with a service from Edinburgh on the 6th April 1983. Leading is 51224, with 59304 behind. Stuart Mackay.
6th April 1983
SC59304 and SC51224 sit in Dunfermline Lower station with a northbound service on the 6th April 1983. Stuart Mackay.
6th April 1983
Set 101 304 heads north out of Dunfermline Lower on the 6th April 1983. The closest vehicle is unknown, the centre car is 59304 and the DMBS is 51224. Stuart Mackay.
7th June 1983
M51567, Sc59060 & M53926 at Dunfermline, Tuesday 7th June 1983, about to depart with the 19:47 Edinburgh Waverley – Cowdenbeath service. I considered this unusual during a visit to Scotland in June 1983, a 3 car DMU comprising two Class 108 motor cars (on loan from Chester) sandwiching a Metro Cammell trailer. What made it unusual was the centrally mounted headlamp on both motor cars which indicated that they had come from those sets so equipped to work the Central Wales Line. At this time the station nameboards simply read “Dunfermline” but the platform lamps confusingly still showed the station’s former name of “Dunfermline Lower”. Nowadays the station is known as “Dunfermline Town”. The local council, having devoted considerable energy in changing every road sign from “Town Centre” to “City Centre”, requested that the station be renamed “Dunfermline City”, which was abandoned as the cost pr Brian McDevitt.
15th June 1983
My notes say that this is Sc51243 calling at Inverkeithing with the 07:03 Edinburgh Waverley to Cowdenbeath service on 15th June 1983. However, Sc51243 was a Driving Motor Brake 2nd so I can only assume I scribbled down the number of the rear car as the train pulled out! The station depicted here opened in 1890 in connection with the Forth Bridge project. It replaced the previous 1877 station which had been situated on the south side of Boreland Road overbridge at the far end of the station. The relocation was necessary as the new line to the Forth Bridge bypassed the old station which was situated on what initially became the North Queensferry branch. The station building to the right of the DMU was replaced during redevelopment of Inverkeithing station in the mid 1980s. The building on the left platform remains in use today. Brian McDevitt.