Leaving the main Stirling to Dunfermline line at Alloa, other stations were built at Sauchie, Tillicoultry, Dollar, Rumbling Bridge, Crook of Devon, Balado and Kinross, where it joined the main Perth to Edinburgh line [2] The railway was independent but worked by the North British Railway until 1875 when it was absorbed by the major company.

In 1863 the Devon Valley Railway, having struggled to raise sufficient capital, opened the 6½ miles from Kinross to Rumbling Bridge.

The next 4½ miles was required to go alongside the Devon Water where there were a series of deep gorges making it very difficult to build a line.

[1] The North British Railway supplied their expertise and capital to complete the line.

To prevent a very steep descent into Dollar it was decided to rebuild the section at Rumbling Bridge to a lower level.

The proprietor of that stretch of water had died recently, and to gain possession of the river the company had to fight a protracted action in the Irish Court of Chancery.

In the early years, light 0-4-2 locomotives built by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester hauled most of the trains on this line.