Notes by Keddie Law
In the early 20th century Burntisland and Methil were important coal-exporting ports. Both towns owe much of the development of their enclosed harbours to the North British Railway company which handled the rapidly-growing trade in coal. Two of the large hydraulic hoists used to load vessels can be seen in the background, along with hundreds of railway wagons. Several of these hoists survived until the1960s.