A rare visitor to the Rosyth Branch and a bit more.

An up early morning commuter service departs North Queensferry heading for Edinburgh. 158705 leads 170460 on 1B09 0643 off Carnoustie as the sun comes up over South Queensferry.

ScotRail liveried 158736 slows for its North Queensferry stop working 2G03 0813 from Edinburgh to Edinburgh clockwise Fife Circle.

An empty stock move from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy runs through North Queensferry station with 170451 forming 5G16 0824 off Edinburgh Haymarket depot.

SPT liveried 170478 works a Fife Circle trip departing North Queensferry running back to Edinburgh. It left Edinburgh at 0713 for a clockwise circuit under headcode 2K13.

Prior warning of a working off the Rosyth Docks branch saw me at North Queensferry early in the morning to wait for the light loco. 66149 appears off the Forth Bridge running as 0Z20 0813 Millerhill to Rosyth Docks.

The remains of Rosyth Castle stands in amongst the debris that surrounds the industrial estate on the edge of the Naval Dockyard. In the foreground is a North British signal, complete with finial and home arm.

The morning sun glints off the down home semaphore arm, beyond is the North British signalbox and up starter. Neither signal was used during the visit of 66149.

66149 slowly appears through the early morning mist of a bitterly cold morning. The sun was doing its best to burn the haze off.

The driver of 66149 brings his loco to a stand at the home signal. Visible in this shot is the signalbox, up starter and castle ruins.

The loco eases past the North British Railway signalbox. There was someone in the 'box but none of the signals were used.

One of the Dock's shunters stands to the left having brought the KUA flask wagon down for the EWS loco to tie on. A staff member watches as the wagon is coupled on. Despite the sensitive nature of the load and location I was able to take photos completely unhindered.

66149 is coupled onto the solitary KUA wagon and departure time is awaited plus any paperwork that may be required. The man in the blue hat is pointing AT ME. Time to move on!!

The departure was delayed by around 20 - 25 minutes but the wait was worth it. 66149 comes to a stand at signal EV411 while the driver gets up to climb down and phone the signalman.

66149 and its solitary KUA wagon wait for the road on the very rarely used Rosyth branch. No, that is not my car.

A closer look at the KUA double bogied flask wagon, a most unusual design.

An empty HAA working heads west at Kirkliston on the freight only line between Dalmeny and Winchborough. 66101 hauls 6J11 0930 off Longannet Power Station to Hunterston.

After a drive to the over bridge at Park Farm near Philipstoun I was greeted by a westbound empty coal train and it was the same one seen near Kirkliston. 66101 approaches with 6J11 0930 off Longannet to Hunterston.

The sun has appeared now and 170428 in First Group livery passes working 1R43 1145 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street.

In the opposite direction is another Turbostar, 170403, this time in ScotRail livery working 1R44 1145 Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh.

Trains between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street run at 15 minute intervals. 170433 works the 1200 Edinburgh departure, 1R31.

66149 and its single KUA wagon load passes by Park Farm heading for Carlisle.

A class 2 local working formed by 158735 working 2P37 1149 from Newcraighall to Dunblane.

Looking from the other side of the bridge at Park Farm as 170459 approaches with 2P84 1157 Dunblane to Edinburgh.

Pulling the lens in to shoot between the trees and bushes for 170409 running east towards Edinburgh with the 1215 Glasgow Queen Street departure, 1R48.

Turning round to catch 170409 passes 170411 working 1R91 1230 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street.

The sun is quite low and the shadows are very long as 66142 fronts 6J12 1055 Longannet to Hunterston empty HAA coal hoppers. A final shot before I leave Park Farm and head elsewhere.

Moving onto the Bathgate branch and tug 60015 rattles through Uphall station with the empty carflats and cartics of service 6M85 1341 Bathgate to Washwood Heath.

A move to the west side of Almond Viaduct near Winchburgh and an unknown class 158 sprinter heads for Dunblane working 2P27 1349 off Newcraighall.

Whilst this is a great afternoon location to photograph the passing traffic it is not easy to identify the units. A First Group liveried class 170 heads for Edinburgh with 1R52 1345 off Glasgow Queen Street.

Another class 170 crosses the Category A listed viaduct working 1R37 1415 Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street. The 36 arch viaduct took three years to build between 1839 and 1842 by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.

Continuing with train 1R37, the set crosses the western section which has 7 arches, the central and largest arch bridges the A89. It has a central span of 66ft, over the A89 road with 3 arches of 50ft span on either side.

Four trains an hour run in each direction during the most of the day between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This set forms 1R95 1430 from Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street. The structure has been strengthened over the years with lengths of rail bolted to it.

A STP liveried class 156 sprinter passes over the main eastern section. It is made up of 36 ashlar-faced (prepared stonework, dressed or cut) segmental masonry arches, each with a 50 ft span, and up to 70ft high.

The unit is lit by the weak afternoon sun as it heads towards Glasgow on an unknown working. This is the embankment be tween the two sections.

The 1415 off Glasgow Queen Street, 1R40, gives the passengers a grand view of the River Almond flood plain as it speeds towards Edinburgh. The class 170 turbostar wears the livery of the previous franchise holder National Express.

The previous unit presses on and meets a class 2 service working to Dunblane, 2P55 1419 off Newcraighall.

A final shot and a pair of turbostars head for Glasgow with 1R25 1500 off Edinburgh. Trains are now being strengthened to cope with the evening rush. The viaduct contains 1,105,000 cubic feet of masonry and cost £130,000 to build and is gently curving away to the left in the Edinburgh direction. Time to go home.