Much of the traffic passing up the gradient from Methil to Wellesley consisted of coal in BR wagons brought into the exchange sidings from non ex-WCC pits destined to be treated at the Baum Washer, but some trainloads of NCB empties were also timetabled to run. These trains on reaching the Washer sidings were briefly parked whilst the engine ran around the train and then headed up the WPR main line to Lochhead for replenishment. Although made up of empty wagons, these trains could be quite long and the climb to the washer needed an all-out effort as seen here with WPR No 20 blasting away from Methil at 10.15am on 5th March 1970.

Having conducted these operations countless times over the years, the crews were well used to the procedures involved and carried them out with great efficiency.
Just ten minutes later at 10.25am, the same train was recorded crossing over the bridge under which it had recently passed, heading for Wemyss, a distance of five miles to the south.

Photo by and copyright of David P Williams