We are the owners the former Kirkland marshalling yard at Leven in Fife. The yard was located at the junction between the East Coast line and the line to Methil docks. This 20 acre site once handled all of the coal wagons carrying coal to be exported through Methil docks, which at their height were the most important and busiest coal-exporting docks in Scotland. As well as shunting coal 24 hours a day, Kirkland Yard also handled much of the freight for a thriving industrial area, and was of critical importance to the the war effort during the Second World War. Adjacent to the yard site, and included in our land purchase, is part of the former Fife Coast line, which was an important secondary main line in Fife, and was once a favoured tourist route through the East Neuk of Fife. A Railtrack line still runs along the southern side of our site, on land that was originally part of Kirkland Yard. This line until a few years ago serviced Methil Power Station until its closure with coal trains. The line has been mothballed and has now been out of use since.
The site before we done any work to it in 2002
The site not long after the fence was erected in 2003
The site as it stands in 2009
We have already put up a compound fence, laid some track and put up a building to keep our rolling stock under cover and do some renovation work inside. Various containers and portacabins are also in place for storage of items and use as meeting rooms and various other uses. The sketch below shows how this area looks now.
The compound with our storage facilities
The plan below shows a possible development for this site. As time goes by, we have had many rethinks about the exact layout. What is illustrated is the track and buildings that are expected to be in place by the next year. There are other ideas for expanding the site and putting up new buildings and these will be forthcoming as time goes on.
Likely Site Plan in 2010
Last updated: - 23rd July 2009
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