In 2023 and 2024 the Burgh Room house an exhibition on the Railway in Crail:

The ever-growing railway system in Great Britain finally reached Crail in September 1883.  Partly due to the increasing volume of Victorian summer visitors together with pressure from local farmers, the railway line was finally extended beyond Anstruther.  Crail was one of the last towns in Fife to receive a rail link providing both freight and passenger services.

The first train, consisting of three wagons of oxen and one of malt, was hauled by the Company Directors' own traction engine.

North British Railways (NBR) referred to the line as "No 39 line", "Fife Coast Line" or simply "The Coast Line". It was 39 miles long and originally single track.

From 1890-1922 freight transported on the line included coal, livestock, potatoes, lime and sugar beet.  Salted herrings, packed in barrels, were transported between February and March.

1910 saw the inauguration of the "Fife Coast Express" providing morning and evening express trains to and from Glasgow.  The journey took 2 hours & 20 minutes.

In 1910 NBR operated 15 trains per day, Monday to Friday and 17 trains on Saturday.  There were no trains on Sunday.  By 1922 there were 12 trains running on Monday, 11 trains per day Tuesday - Saturday but still no Sunday service.

In 1922 the cost of a First-Class ticket from Crail to Edinburgh was 17s 10d - about £63.48 in today's money.  A 3rd class ticket cost 3s 11d (£14.54).

During the 2nd World War (1939-1945) troop trains would arrive at Crail carrying HMS Jackdaw personnel and stores for the airfield.

Post war years saw a decline in the number of passengers although there was, by then, a Sunday service.  Excursion trains bring numerous visitors to Crail from Glasgow and Edinburgh especially during July and August for the "Glasgow & Edinburgh Fair" holidays.  In the 1960's most locomotives had switched from steam to diesel but buses were considered cheaper, more frequent and were better patronised.

In 1963, Crail Station became one of the victims of the "Dr Beeching" cuts, as the line was considered to be financially unviable,  The freight service was closed on the 5th October 1964 and the last passenger train from Crail left on the 6th September 1965 with the tracks permanently removed shortly after.  Subsequently, the station building and adjacent land was converted to a garden centre.

The Burgh Room also recently contained a display about Crail's Town Criers:

In the 15th century, before the days of the Town Hall clock, the residents of the Scottish Burghs were dependent on the Burgh piper and drummer to waken them at 4am. Curfew was sounded at 8pm by the “fife and drum”.

The drummer was known as the “swasher” whose drum was “swashed” or buckled on a belt. Thus the word swashbuckler came into the language - meaning a noisy, exhibitionist type of person.

The fifer (or piper) and drummer were provided with a uniform and received a small annual payment. They also played at weddings and formal Burgh occasions.

By 1820, many burghs had dispensed with the piper - leaving only the drummer to call “Oyez! Oyez!” and announce any important event. So the Town Crier became the original newsman. He would announce his presence in the streets by banging a drum and later, by ringing a handbell. 

By the 1930’s, Town Crier competitions were regularly held, often sponsored by the national newspapers.

The Airfield Room