Burntisland Docks

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 20 Apr 2011

At the instigation of its chief engineer, Thomas Bouch, the North British Railway Company introduced the world's first roll-on, roll-off rail ferry between Granton and Burntisland in 1850. (A similar ferry began operating across the Tay, between Newport and Broughty Ferry, in the following year.) "The Leviathan makes 4 or 5 double trips a day and it can take from 30 to 34 wagons at a time. The time occupied in making the single trip is about 26 minutes and the operation of loading and unloading takes an additional 5, or 8, minutes. (...) During the six months from Feb 1st to July 31st 1860, the number of trips made was 1,546, equal to 8,503 miles and the number of waggons carried was 32,712. (...) The rate for the carriage of minerals and other heavy goods is one shilling per ton. The opening of this work has been the means of introducing into Edinburgh the coal from Fife which before was unknown in this market." -- Proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 1861 The ferries were discontinued with the opening of the Tay Bridge in 1877. The ill-fated train lost in the disaster of 1879 left Burntisland at 5.20 pm, reaching the bridge shortly after 7 pm. "TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON BRIDGE. ONE OR MORE OF HIGH GIRDERS BLOWN DOWN. AM NOT SURE AS TO SAFETY OF LAST TRAIN DOWN FROM EDINBURGH. WILL ADVISE FURTHER AS SOON AS [NEWS] CAN BE OBTAINED." -- Taybridge Stationmaster's telegram to NBR, Portobello. All 75 passengers and crew died. Image

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