Fife Heritage Railway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fife Heritage Railway
Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society
Commercial operations
Name	Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society
Original gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Owned by	The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society
Length	0.5 miles (0.80 km)
Preservation history
1992	The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society is formed to safeguard the Lochty Private Railway stock and find a new home.
1994	Last of the rolling stock at Lochty is moved to the Methil Power station until a permanent home can be found
2001	The KFRPS acquires Kirkland Yard.
2003	The stock is moved to its new home after being based at Methil Power Station since 1994
2008	Opened to public
2016	First steam locomotive completed

The Fife Heritage Railway is a special railway run by a group called The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society. This group started in 1992. Their main goal is to show off the amazing history of railways in Fife, Scotland. They also work hard to fix up old trains and carriages that used to run in Fife. Since 2003, their home base has been in Levenmouth.

About the Railway

The Lochty Private Railway closed down in 1992. This happened because fewer people were visiting, and it cost more to keep it safe. So, in May 1992, The Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society was quickly formed. Their job was to take care of the old trains from Lochty and find them a new home.

In 1994, the last of the trains were moved from Lochty. They went to the Methil Power Station, which is now closed. The society kept them there while they searched for a permanent place.

Finding a New Home

The society looked at many places around Fife. These included an old airfield, a park, and sites where old coal mines or private railways used to be. They even considered an old train station. But none of these places worked out for different reasons.

Finally, in 2001, the society found the perfect spot. They bought the old Kirkland railway yard on the edge of Leven. In 2003, all the trains were moved from the Power Station to their new home.

Since then, the society has built about half a mile of track. They also added many side tracks for storing trains. They even built a two-track shed for fixing up old engines.

Steam Returns to Fife

In 2016, something really exciting happened. The Fife Heritage Railway started up the first steam engine on a Fife heritage line since 1992! This engine is called Forth. It got its special certificate in August, which means it can run until 2020. After a short test period, Forth began carrying passengers at the end of 2016.

Forth is painted in the colours of the old Wemyss Coal Company. This matches other engines that used to work in the area. A special ceremony was held in 2017 to officially rename the engine. The clan chief, Michael Wemyss, did the honours.

Our Train Collection

The society wants to save trains and carriages that either worked in Fife or have a special connection to the area. It's pretty cool because many of their trains are now kept within 15 miles of where they first started working in Fife!

Steam Locomotives

Number & name	Description	History	Status	Build Date	Photograph
No.10 'Forth'	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	This engine worked at Granton gas works. After that, it spent time at the Strathspey Railway and then the Lochty Private Railway. When Lochty closed, it joined the KFRPS collection. It was fixed up and started running again in 2016. Its certificate is good until 2020.	Operational	1926
No. 21	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	This engine was built for the NCB (National Coal Board) in Fife. It has a larger water tank and boiler than other similar engines. It worked at many coal mines in Fife, including Frances Colliery in Dysart. It came to Lochty Private Railway in 1983. After many years outside, work has now started to fix it up completely.	Under Overhaul, anticipated to take 8–10 years.	1951
No. 3	Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	This engine worked at the British Aluminium Company in Burntisland, Fife, until 1971. It was then stored until 1989. It arrived at Kirkland in March 2020 on a 10-year loan. The plan is to make it look good for display. Maybe it will even run again one day!	Under Cosmetic Overhaul.	1937

Diesel Locomotives

Number & name	Description	History	Status	Build Date	Photograph
No.4 'North British'	Ruston and Hornsby 88DS 0-4-0DS	This engine spent most of its working life at a distillery in Edinburgh. It came to Lochty Private Railway and then to KFRPS in 1992. It now helps with track work.	Operational	1958
No.7	Ruston and Hornsby 165DS 0-4-0DH	This engine came from Rosyth Dockyard. It also helps with track work, just like 'North British'.	Operational	1952
No.1 'The Garvie Flyer'	Ruston and Hornsby 165DE 0-4-0DE	This engine came from Scottish Power Methil. It is currently being fixed up to run again.	Under Resoration	1960
No.2 'Largo Law'	Ruston and Hornsby 165DE 0-4-0DE	This engine also came from Scottish Power Methil. It is being used for parts to help fix 'The Garvie Flyer'. It might become a display item later.	Stored, currently being dismantled for parts for 'The Garvie Flyer'	1961
No.400 'River Eden'	North British 200BHP 0-4-0DH	This engine worked at RAF Leuchars until 1986. It then moved to Lochty Private Railway. It is now the main shunter and is used for 'Driver for a Fiver' rides on open days.	Operational	1955
No.10	North British 440DH 0-6-0DH	This engine worked at several coal mines, including Michael, Wellesley, and Bowhill. It was taken out of service in 1974 and moved to Lochty Private Railway. There are long-term plans to fix it up to run again.	Partly Restored	1957

Coaching Stock

Number & name	Description	History	Status	Build Date	Photograph
No.5010	Norges Statsbaner Full Brake	This carriage was first saved at Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. It was used as a brake coach. The KFRPS bought it in 2014. They added windows, special brakes, and seats so it could carry passengers.	Operational	1914
No.14010	MK1 BFK	This carriage is privately owned. It is used for storage, but work is being done to see if it can be fixed up.	Stored	1959
No.4223	Mk1 TSO	This carriage is privately owned. It is being changed to hold a model railway. Its old seats are now used in coach No.5010.	Converted	1956

Other Rolling Stock

Number & name	Description	History	Status	Build Date	Photograph
No.DB993875	BR 20-Ton 'Shark' Brake Van	This special brake van was used to spread gravel (ballast) evenly on the tracks. It now works with other trains to carry passengers.	Operational	1957
No.DB987132	BR ZCV Plaice Wagon	This was one of the first things the society fixed up. It is very useful for the team that works on the tracks.	Operational	1979
No.7948	SGD 20-Ton grain wagon	This wagon carried grain for Scottish Grain Distillers. It is now being fixed up to look good for a museum display.	Under Restoration	N/A
No.7926	SGD 20-Ton grain wagon	This wagon also carried grain. It is now being changed into a wagon that can carry ballast for the tracks.	Under conversion	1937
No.202. DB47112	William Briggs & sons 14-Ton Bitumen Wagon	This wagon was built for a refinery in Dundee. It was given to the railway society in the 1970s. It has recently been changed to carry water for the steam engines.	Operation	1955
No.21117	NBR Non-Vent Van	This is the oldest piece of rolling stock on site and is privately owned. It needs some fixing up but is stored inside to keep it safe. The plan is to restore it for a museum display.	Stored	1901

Future Plans

The society's main goal right now is to become more well-known. They plan to run steam trains on their current track. They also want to build Kirkland into a museum for Fife's railway history. This will include a new display building soon.

Work has already started to fix up a second steam engine. This engine will run alongside Forth. The Levenmouth rail link is also expected to reopen in the next few years. The society hopes this will help them become an even bigger tourist attraction for the Levenmouth area and all of Fife.