Dunfermline and Queensferry Railway

The latter course was adopted by the Edinburgh and Northern Railway, which built its line from Burntisland to Perth and Tayport,[note 1] opposite Broughty, east of Dundee.

The North British Railway had absorbed the EP&DR in 1862, and brought considerable additional financial power to the matter, yet seemingly without decisive action.

Thus in 1864 the Fife Herald reported that: As yet, there is no preparation for laying the trunk line between Edinburgh and Dunfermline and northwards to Perth.

It appears that the North British Company are contemplating the abandonment of the route by the Queensferry, and the adoption of another higher up the Firth by means of a bridge.

The report of the Directors says, "Another cause has dictated caution in the commencement of the expensive works on the southern portion of the Dunfermline Railway.

In the present [Parliamentary] session, two bills have passed the second reading in the House of Commons, each containing application for power to erect a bridge... with this advantage, that the northern terminus of each of these bridges would abut upon the company's railway at Charleston, [sic] and this [would] open immediate communication with Edinburgh and Glasgow from Fife by means of its existing lines from Perth and Dundee via Dunfermline..."Every one who reads this will easily spell out its real meaning--the abandonment of the Queensferry route--and the consequent abandonment of the whole design of an Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Perth railway, although it has received the sanction of Parliament.

Such an undertaking as this would cost a million of money,[note 2] and would be an act of folly very unlikely to be perpetrated by a covey of sharp-witted railway directors.

The North British Railway was involved with the company financially and in the Board of the D&QR, but by now it had become obvious within the NBR that the way forward was a Forth Bridge.

These they spoke of as disappointing, but stated that, under all the circumstances, and keeping in view the unexpected increases in the cost of constructing the railway, they had reluctantly come to the conclusion that they had no alternative but to recommend their acceptance.

per annum from 1st February 1878, with a lien on the line; they are to provide the necessary passenger accommodation at Port Edgar, and open the route from Edinburgh to Dunfermline via Queensferry without delay.

[note 3] At the same time a short branch to Inverkeithing Harbour was built, partly on the trackbed of the Halbeath Railway.

The towns named have lost considerably by the undertaking [presumably the delay in completion], but they are certain to benefit by the improved accommodation which will be supplied, and will be better equipped for competition in the race of enterprise and industry.

The manufacturing interests, and the owners of the extensive coalfields in the west of Fife will now be in a much better position than formerly ...[Dunfermline has been] shamefully neglected in respect of railway accommodation.

The beginning [of the D&QR project] was hopeful enough, but the cost exceeded what was expected, and the result of an amalgamation of the local company with the North British, on the condition that the latter completed the unfinished works, was that the shareholders lost considerably by the bargain.

The first train conveying passengers left Comely Park Station, Dunfermline, a little after seven o'clock on Thursday morning...

The passengers were not numerous, and on the train starting at Comely Park not a single cheer was raised...For accommodation of every kind the station at Inverkeithing excels that of Dunfermline.

Surely, the North British Railway Company, who have made what is believed to be an excellent bargain, will show the Dunfermline and Inverkeithing people that they are not only disposed to be just but also generous.

[8]Even after the opening of the promised ferry and train connection, things were still wrong for the newspaper: One of the pleasantest stage-coach routes still in existence is that between Edinburgh and Dunfermline.