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| March 2005 |
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| Fife
no more. OK so that's a bit melodramatic, but the vehicles,
services and property of Stagecoach Fife are quite different to those of
its predecessor Alexander(Fife) 30 years ago. Of course
Vikings, Lodekkas and Leopards have long since disappeared, but so too
have several bus stations, some historic routes and a good few company
premises. The latest depot to close was that on the esplanade
at Kirkcaldy, for so many years the head office of Alexander(Fife), which
shut in October 2004. Here we remember some other aspects of Fife
that are no more. |
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| Depots
no more |
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| After Alexanders
was split in 1961, Fife was left with ten depots. Gradually
these have been whittled down to just five with the former head office at
Kirkcaldy closing in October 2004 (above middle). Other
depots that
have closed include Anstruther, Cupar, Kelty and Lochgelly
(replaced by Glenrothes). Newburgh located by the banks of the
silvery Tay was one of the last small depots to close in the late
1980's. In this view (above right) half the fleet is
seen at dusk. The depots at Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline and
Glenrothes remain in use as do those at St. Andrews and Aberhill (left)
sometimes known
as Methill but located in Leven. |
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| Routes
no more |
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| One
of the longest stage services in Scotland was the (14) from Glasgow to
Dunfermline via Kilsyth. Taking almost three hours from end to
end, it required six vehicles from four depots and two companies (Midland:
2 x Stirling, 2 x Kilsyth, 1 x Alloa; Fife: 1 x Dunfermline).
With the advent of European legislation on driving hours, the service was
cut in two at Stirling from the mid 1990's. Now renumbered the
(24), three First vehicles operate the Glasgow to Stirling section and two
First and one Stagecoach Fife vehicle operate the Stirling to Dunfermline
section. The Fife representative on the route during the 70's
and 80's was usually Alexander bodied Leopard FPE91. Here
sister FPE90 (YSF90S) is seen deputising in Kirkintilloch in
December 1985. |
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| Bus
Stations no more |
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| Some towns in Fife
unbelievably had two bus stations including Dunfermline (above)
which is now a car park, and Leven (left and below left) which is
now housing. The second bus station in Kirkcaldy became the
main one after The Esplanade (below middle) was closed in the early
1980's. One notable exception is Glenrothes which has gained a
bus station (below right). The bus station in St.
Andrews has remained much the same for many years (bottom). |
| St Andrews is unusual in that its bus
station is located on the garage forecourt. Here a Newburgh
vehicle (below right) loads on the (23) for Stirling, a route that used to
run through to Glasgow until the Scotmap changes in 1981. |
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| Fife
no more |
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| Click to enlarge photos. |
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| Photo
Facts (top to bottom) |
Welcome
home |
 | A Northern Counties bodied Olympian of
Stagecoach Fife at Kirkcaldy depot in August 2004. |
| Aberhill depot in August 2004. |
| FPE64 (HSX64N), an Alexander
bodied M-type London coach at Kirkcaldy depot in September 1978. |
| Newburgh depot at dusk in April
1988. In shot are |
| FPE90 (YSF90S) in wintry
Kirkintilloch in December 1985. |
| St. Margarets bus station in
Dunfermline is now a car park; FNV28 (HXA28E), an Albion Viking
in bus livery is seen heading for Crombie in July 1977. |
| Parkhill bus station in Leven is now
housing. |
| Fife were the only SBG company to by
ECW bodied Bristol REs, a staple of the NBC. FE29
(JXA929F) is seen at Kirkcaldy esplanade bus station (now a car
park opposite the bingo hall) in September 1977. |
| Volvo Ailsa FRA67 (A967YSX), in
scenic Glenrothes bus station in September 1987. |
| St. Andrews bus station now and then; 232
(GSG132T) about to depart for Stirling in April 1988. |
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| There
has never been a warm welcome for enthusiasts at Fife depots.
Even in the pre-hysteria days, it was impossible to take out a notebook in
Kirkcaldy depot. |
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