Exploring Wemyss Tramway from Gallatown, Kirkcaldy to Coaltown of Wemyss

The Wemyss Tramway Order of 1905 authorised the construction of this tramway. It was financed by the Wemyss Coal Company, owned by Randolph Wemyss. It was opened on 25th August 1906 and was a single-line track throughout, financed by the Wemyss Coal Company (owned by the laird). It ran through the villages it served as a street tramway, but in the rural areas was more like a light railway, running on fenced-off, sleepered stretches. The mainline of the tramway joined Leven, Methil, Buckhaven, East Wemyss, West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss, Dysart and Kirkcaldy. It was 3ft 6in gauge and 7.5 miles long running with electrical power provided from Denbeath, a power station built for the Wellesley Colliery. The tramway operated with 4 cars, carrying workers for the Wemyss owned collieries, between locations. The initial rolling stock consisted of 9 (Nos. 1-9) Brush single-deck cars, followed later by four identical cars (Nos. 10-13), and, in 1907, four Milnes-Voss bogie cars (Nos. 14-17), which served specifically as miners’ transport, in 1925 two more Brush bogie cars (Nos. 18-19) were added. In 1928 two ex-Potteries bogie cars were purchased (Nos. 20-21) and in 1931 eight double-deckers (Nos. 22-29) were purchased from Kirkcaldy, but had the upper decks and stairs removed before entering service. The power station contained two engines of 250 h.p. each. Services started on 25 August 1906, and it had running powers to the Kirkcaldy Corporation Tramways system. Due to the expansion of bus competition after the 1914-1918 War, the company was forced to purchase its own buses, although when controlling interest passed to the Balfour Beatty group in 1922, its main rival, the General Motor Carrying Company, was bought out. The line closed on 30th January 1932.