DMU Operations: Scottish Region
Edinburgh - Kirkcaldy
The diesel services northwards from Edinburgh into Fife were launched on 4 April 1960 (postponed from 6 March), the same day that pairs of Class 26s took over Edinburgh - Aberdeen services.
The route from Edinburgh to Inverkeithing was shared with Dunfermline services. After Inverkeithing the Kirkcaldy service had stops at Aberdour, Burntisland and Kinghorn. This was the route to Dundee and the Edinburgh - Dundee services probably did no make stops at these smaller stations.
Met-Camm three-cars were the main traction at launch and until the 1990s. Over the years any other DMU types allocated to Leith Central/Haymarket would also appear such as Gloucesters and Cravens. In the later part of the 1980s 104s, 107s, 108s and 120s could also be found.
The service was incorporated into the Fife Circle service in the 1990s operated by Class 117s, the circle also including the Edinburgh-Kirkcaldy stretch.
The end of First Generation DMUs on the route was in November 1999.
Sample Timetables
4th April - 12th June 1960
The introduction was part way through the winter 1959 timetable which began on 2/11/59, which in the Passenger Services Scotland timetable was Table 27 (4.4 mb pdf).
13th June - 11th September 1960
Cover scan courtesy of John Paton.
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (6.2 mb pdf).
12th September 1960 - 11th June 1961
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (5 mb pdf).
12th June to 10th September 1961
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (5.9 mb pdf).
11th September 1961 - 17th June 1962
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (4.9 mb pdf).
18th June to 9th September 1962
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (6.1 mb pdf).
10th September 1962 to 16th June 1963
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (4.5 mb pdf).
17th June to 8th September, 1963
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (5.4 mb pdf).
9th September 1963 to 14th June 1964
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (4.8 mb pdf).
15 June - 6 September, 1964
This was a small booklet that was not a full timetable, but a summary only showing the times for the stations at each end of the journey. This one also included services to Perth and Stirling.
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (6.6 mb pdf).
7th September 1964 to 13th June 1965
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 27 (5.3 mb pdf).
14 June 1965 to 17 April 1966
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 22 (12 mb pdf).
18 April 1966 to 5 March 1967
This covered Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh and as well as services terminating at Kirkcaldy it would also include the times of the Edinburgh - Dundee and any stopping Edinburgh - Aberdeen services. Cover only shown.
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 18 (13.4 mb pdf).
6 March 1967 until further notice
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 18 (7 mb pdf).
4 September 1967 to 5 May 1968
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 18 (5 mb pdf).
6 May 1968 to 4 May 1969
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 18 (4.7 mb pdf).
5 May 1969 to 3 May 1970
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 17 (3 mb pdf).
4 May 1970 to 2 May 1971
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 17 (2.2 mb pdf).
3 May 1971 to 30 April 1972
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 17 (2.2 mb pdf).
1972
A single sided 3 7/8" x 8 1/4" leaflet giving off-peak fares to Edinburgh
1 May 1972 to 6 May 1973
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 17 (1.6 mb pdf).
7 May 1973 to 5 May 1974
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was included in Table 17 (2.2 mb pdf).
6 May 1974 to 4 May 1975
3" x 4" when folded
In the Great Britain Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 (1.9 mb pdf).
10 Jan, 1977 to 1 May, 1977
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
2 May, 1977 to 7 May, 1978
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 (2 mb pdf).
3 October, 1977 to 7 May, 1978
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 — link in 2 May.
8 May, 1978 to 13 May, 1979
3" x 4" when folded
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 (2.1 mb pdf).
2 October, 1978 to 13 May, 1979
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 — link in 8 May.
14 May, 1979 to 11 May 1980
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
14 May, 1979 until further notice (revised edition)
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
20 August, 1979 until further notice (2nd revised edition)
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
12 May, 1980 to 10 May, 1981
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
1 June, 1981 to 16 May, 1982
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
5 October, 1981 to 16 May, 1982
2⅞" x 4⅛" when folded
4 October, 1982 to 15 May, 1983
3" x 4" when folded
30 September 1985 to 11 May 1986
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 (2 mb pdf).
12 May to 28 September 1986
In the Scotland Passenger Timetable it was included in Table 241 (1.9 mb pdf).
Images
Unknown date
A Met-Camm triple set passes through Princes Street Gardens, date unknown. DMBS Sc51467 is closest, it was allocated to Leith Central at the time. It carries Edinburgh Waverley on the destination blind and the caption on the rear of the print noted it as an 'Up Kirkcaldy' service. Stuart Mackay Collection.
13th September 1966
An unidentified Gloucester RC&W Motor Brake 2nd leads a Metro-Cammell car off the Forth Bridge and approaches Dalmeny with the 11:30 Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh Waverley service on on 13th September 1966. From an original 35mm transparency by an unidentified photographer - an eBay purchase. Brian McDevitt Collection.
circa late 1960s
Passing through Princes Street Gardens circa late 1960s are a three-car Met-Camm DMU on an Edinburgh Waverley - Kirkcaldy service, an empty car transporter hauled by a Brush type 4, and just caught on the right is a Swindon Inter-City DMU. Stuart Mackay Collection.
September 1971
A three-car Class 101 Met-Camm DMU in Kirkcaldy station in September 1971. With the driver reading his newspaper this is likely a Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh service rather than a Dundee-Edinburgh working. Alistair Ness.
October 1971
A Met-Camm twin set emerges from Mound Tunnel into Princes Street Gardens with an Edinburgh Waverley - Kirkcaldy service in October 1971. George Woods.
March 1972
A three-car Class 101 DMU heads north with an Edinburgh Waverley to Kirkcaldy service at Dalmeny in March 1972. The left hand buildings on the up platform have long since been removed. Alistair Ness.
April 1972
An Edinburgh-Kirkcaldy service formed of a three-car Class 101 DMU heads north from Dalmeny station. It is changing lines, probably for engineering work on the Forth Bridge. Alistair Ness.
17th June 1978
SC50242 leads a Class 101 DMU departing Edinburgh Waverley with the 13:45 service to Kirkcaldy on 17 June 1978. Stuart Mackay Collection.
December 1978
An unusual hybrid dmu formation passes Saughton Jct with an Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy working in December 1978. Looks like 2/3 of a Derby class 116 with a Gloucester single car on the rear, this will likely be an Eastfield set. Murray Liston.
May 1979
Class 101 DMU set 177 departs from Edinburgh Waverley with the 08:15 to Kirkcaldy, someday in May 1979. The numbers were recorded as 51805 + 59541 + 51459. Stuart Mackay Collection.
23rd June 1980
2V14 15.55 Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy led by HA based Cravens class 105 DMBS Sc51474 arrives at Burntisland Bruce Galloway.
10th August 1981
Sc51474 + 59553 + 50748 Edinburgh Waverley, August 10, 1981. John Carter.
14th November 1981
A Class 101 DMU departs from Edinburgh Waverley with the 11:55 service to Kirkcaldy on 14 November 1981. Leading is SC50748, which was a spare car at the time and recorded in many different sets, which explains the remains of the set numbers on the cab front. The second vehicle is a TBSL. Stuart Mackay Collection.
6th August 1982
Sc50143 on the rear of set 101313 heading south out of North Queensferry station on August 6th, 1982. John Carter.
26th March 1983
Sc50192 departs Inverkeithing with the 13:42 Edinburgh - Kirkcaldy working in the days before the Fife Circle was invented! This was 26th March 1983. The up platform here is partially constructed over the Keithing Burn, a stream which leads into the Firth of Forth via Inverkeithing Bay. Up trains leaving here face a stiff climb and will be 150 feet higher when they cross the Forth Bridge Brian McDevitt.
25th April 1983
27017 rolls into Haymarket platform 2 with 2L40, the 12.17 Edinburgh to Dundee, as Met-Camm 3 car unit 101301 (presumably 50254 + 59305 + 53144), forming 2G17 11.38 Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh, waits to leave. 25th April 1983. Bruce Galloway.
7th June 1983
This shot of Set 358 was taken at Inverkeithing on the morning of Tuesday 7th June 1983. M53926 (with SC59060 + M51567) sets off on the climb to the Forth Bridge with the 08:38 Kirkcaldy – Edinburgh Waverley service. Brian McDevitt.
8th June 1983
M53926, Sc59060 & M51567 at Kirkcaldy, Wednesday 8th June 1983 after working the 14:42 service from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy and was returning to Edinburgh with the 15:38 service from Kirkcaldy. Brian McDevitt.
11th June 1983
A Gloucester RC&W Class 122 “Bubble Car” leads a Derby Class 108 twin (M56248 + M50965 on loan from Carlisle) into Inverkeithing with the 14:38 Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh Waverley service on Saturday 11th June 1983. Brian McDevitt.
18th June 1983
Having worked in from Waverley as 2V04, a hybrid 3 car set prepares to cross over to form the 2G36 0938 Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh service on 18th June 1983. A class 122 railcar, Sc55000, leads a couple of Metro-Cammell vehicles (51248 closest); at this point the 122 was based at Haymarket but its usefulness would mean that it was to last a further 11 years in service until withdrawal in 1994 from Laira. Beyond the station can be seen part of what was once a sprawling empire of linoleum mills. However, the distinctive smell can still be found in the town as one mill continues to produce the floor covering. The goods yard is in its latter years; the closure of the harbour branch and those mills significantly reduced the freight traffic. Latterly, a domestic coal merchant seemed to be the main user. The sight of a wee Barclay 06 parked beside the signal box was long gone. Bruce Galloway.