Edinburgh Waverley and Burntisland MGR derailment. 4th and 8th July 1998

A Railtours Northwest charter from Crewe-Edinburgh arrives behind 37680. This was a late stand in for the booked 37408 which failed the previous day. Upon arrival at Edinburgh the train took a run round the Fife Circle and is seen after a fine run through Fife departing to Craigentinny for servicing.
On Wednesday 8th July 1998 the 7G64 Mossend-Longannet coal train headed by 56067 derailed just outside Burntisland station. The damage caused by the derailment, which happened just after 06.35, saw 14 of the 27 loaded hoppers leave the track.
The following morning I captured some footage of the clear up operation. By the time I arrived at 10.00 only a few hoppers were left to be removed, however I did get a shot of one being craned off the tracks to be put on a low loader and taken to Thornton Yard for re-railing.
The damage caused by the derailment was cleared up quickly and the line was repaired by the Sunday ready for services to resume on Monday morning.

[@stephensmith4480]

It`s amazing how quickly things are back up and running once the wagons have been cleared away. I used to be a member of the Breakdown gang and I have attended some bad ones, but once everyone knows what they have to do and gets stuck in, it soon gets cleared up.

[@JBFlytography]

Remember being taken down to watch MGR hoppers being lifted when I was a bairn. Never actually realised until now where it was 😂

[@ianjones4116]

As long as nobody was hurt. Nice bit of Overtime for the Local Pway gang 👍😂

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

It’s 24 years since that famous derailment took place nelson

[@tristacker]

The locals were slow off the mark. Should have been quicker with sacks and shovels.

[@nelson408.]

😆

[@Supersonic8984]

I'm sure I remember the news reel of that showing a local filling a bucket or bag with coal. Typical Fifer.

[@nkt1]

Probably not many coal fires left, even then.

[@TheSynthnut]

Too fine to use in most domestic fires or stoves. Needs a fluidised bed or you can't get enough air in it and it won't burn well.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Was the cause identified? Made a right mess.....

[@dct1]

Poor fastenings basically.

[@johnbirtley7148]

Road spread, broken axle, wagon jumps rail, could be anything

[@dieseldave3879]

👍