After the closure of the railway through Largo and Lundin Links to passenger traffic on 5 September 1965, the line remained accessible to the occasional freight service. The above image clearly dates from after the 1965 suspension of passenger services, as can be seen from the condition of the track and the station itself. Note the weeds on the line and on the platform, as well as the worn paintwork of the building and peeling posters. The book "The Leven & East of Fife Railway" by Hajducki, Jodeluk and Simpson mentions this period in the history of the line. It says:
"On 26th February 1966 the Crail to Leven section was reduced to 'one engine in steam' status*. The goods service continued to operate in a sporadic fashion between Crail and Leven but it was obvious that it was being run down pending total closure.....The end was, however, not long in coming and closure notices were posted in May 1966 informing the public, who still cared, that goods services were to be withdrawn with effect from 18th July 1966 and the stations at Crail, Pittenweem, St Monance, Kilconquhar and Largo were to be closed to all traffic. Thereafter all remaining wagons and moveables were collected and the line was officially closed with effect from 18th December 1966, the grass-grown track was now left to await its fate at the hands of the demolition gangs."
There was a footnote in this passage of the book stating that the last train to cross the line was in fact in April 1967. This was a locomotive which would normally have not been permitted on the line - the 'Union of South Africa', which you can read more about here.
* 'one engine in steam' refers to the working of just one train over the whole length of a branch line
"On 26th February 1966 the Crail to Leven section was reduced to 'one engine in steam' status*. The goods service continued to operate in a sporadic fashion between Crail and Leven but it was obvious that it was being run down pending total closure.....The end was, however, not long in coming and closure notices were posted in May 1966 informing the public, who still cared, that goods services were to be withdrawn with effect from 18th July 1966 and the stations at Crail, Pittenweem, St Monance, Kilconquhar and Largo were to be closed to all traffic. Thereafter all remaining wagons and moveables were collected and the line was officially closed with effect from 18th December 1966, the grass-grown track was now left to await its fate at the hands of the demolition gangs."
There was a footnote in this passage of the book stating that the last train to cross the line was in fact in April 1967. This was a locomotive which would normally have not been permitted on the line - the 'Union of South Africa', which you can read more about here.
* 'one engine in steam' refers to the working of just one train over the whole length of a branch line
The same book also notes that...
"By 1969 the demolition gangs had removed most of the rails by lorry* and those structures which remained but were thought to have any real scrap value, such as girders and footbridges, were cut up on site and removed within the next year or so."
* A BR 350 hp diesel locomotive had been hired out to the demolition contractors and was used for a time when the line was being lifted
Lundin Links station was purchased by the golf club and the building demolished in 1971. Largo station disappeared around the same time and the site converted into a car park. If you recall the post-closure goods services, the track removal, the demolition of the stations and such like - please comment!
"By 1969 the demolition gangs had removed most of the rails by lorry* and those structures which remained but were thought to have any real scrap value, such as girders and footbridges, were cut up on site and removed within the next year or so."
* A BR 350 hp diesel locomotive had been hired out to the demolition contractors and was used for a time when the line was being lifted
Lundin Links station was purchased by the golf club and the building demolished in 1971. Largo station disappeared around the same time and the site converted into a car park. If you recall the post-closure goods services, the track removal, the demolition of the stations and such like - please comment!
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