The photographs in this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane look back at the history of the Dunfermline business of William MacFarlane and Son, agricultural, motor and general engineers that was based in Pittencrieff Street.

Local historian George Beattie researched the company and drew together these featured images.

The business was founded around 1930 by Willie MacFarlane who was born in Bo’ness in 1910 and brought up in Saline.

He went on to become something of a legend in the Dunfermline motor trade, particularly during the middle part of the 20th century when for some 50 years he operated his multi-faceted business from his premises in Pittencrieff Street.

Our first photograph shows his yard around 1970 at a time when the business was mainly involved in the recovery and dismantling of accident damaged vehicles.

Dunfermline Press: The McFarlane scrap yard around 1970.The McFarlane scrap yard around 1970. (Image: Memory Lane)

On leaving school at 14, Willie began an engineering apprenticeship at the Milesmark depot of Fife County Council.

It was probably during that time that he developed a love of steam traction engines, a passion that would remain with him all his life.

On completion of his apprenticeship, Willie started his own small mechanical engineering business in the yard behind his grandmother’s home on the north side of Pittencrieff Street, roughly half way between Maitland Street and Chalmers Street.

During the ensuing years he was able to add to this property and as the business developed it comprised agricultural and general engineering, traction engine repair and heavy and light breakdown hire.

Our next photograph shows his yard around 1950 which was entered from Pittencrieff Street via the pend under the house in the background.

Dunfermline Press: And this is the yard some two decades earlier, around the 1950s. And this is the yard some two decades earlier, around the 1950s. (Image: Memory Lane)

These houses were demolished shortly after this photograph was taken, thereby opening up the frontage of the yard onto the street.

This scene shows several of Willie’s early steam driven vehicles, and in the distance a hand operated pump supplying Cleveland petrol.

Our next photograph shows one of his machines, a Burrell traction engine of 1925 vintage, being used around 1952 to uproot this large tree at the former knackery which was situated on the south side of Aberdour Road and to the east of the Pitbauchlie Hotel.

Dunfermline Press: One of Willie's machines, a Burrell traction engine of 1925 vintage, was used to uproot this tree. One of Willie's machines, a Burrell traction engine of 1925 vintage, was used to uproot this tree. (Image: Memory Lane)

During the 50s, 60s and 70s Willie's yard was a Mecca for DIY enthusiasts seeking second-hand parts to repair their vehicles, and seldom was he unable to satisfy this demand.

In 1980 Willie retired from business when his premises, along with others in Pittencrieff Street, were purchased by the local authority and subsequently demolished to make way for a new housing complex.

Our final photograph shows Willie at the wheel of his Foden steam wagon around 1952 towing another steam driven Foden across the Glen Bridge onto Carnegie Street (now Carnegie Drive).

Dunfermline Press: Willie's at the wheel, crossing the Glen Bridge. Willie's at the wheel, crossing the Glen Bridge. (Image: Memory Lane)

A mother and young child on the ‘Keep Left’ island are keeping a wary eye on the long queue of traffic behind the slow moving steam wagons.

More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries as well as at facebook.com/olddunfermline