Crail folk have seen some impressive sand castles in their time but nothing like the work of art stationed in their High Street.
Award-winning sand sculptor Jamie Wardley is creating a five-metre sand sculpture of a steam train which is proving just the ticket.
Armed with spades, rakes and even spoons, he and his team spent three days carving a 20-ton block of compacted sand.
It has delighted organisers of the East Neuk Festival who commissioned it to tie in with this year’s Holiday Line theme.
It is the result of a chance meeting across the Atlantic between the festival’s artistic director Svend Brown and Jamie, whose previous creations have included a Mayan temple and a 120-ton bust of Charles Darwin.
Festival spokeswoman Debra Boraston said, “Svend always like to weave into the programme something about the East Neuk itself.
“Each year he tries to do something in a slightly different venue or outside, and he came across Jamie in America last year and was just blown away by his artistry.
“He thought this was ideal. It’s something outside that will capture people’s attention.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from people of all ages, especially now it is taking shape and looks like a train emerging from a block of sand.”
Jamie, who will be sculpting for Tate Liverpool’s Picasso exhibition later this month, is also pleased with his handiwork and joked, “Apparently we are going to win the sandcastle competition.”
He said people love what he has done and have been stopping to have a look.
He added, “It’s fascinating. It’s something that everyone can have a connection with.
“Everyone has tried to make a sandcastle.
“For kids it’s fun and adults can appreciate the size of it and the detail.”
After the sand was delivered, it was compacted until it was like soft sandstone-perfect for carving.
As each section is completed it is coated with a waterproof solution so that it will withstand the rain.
The Holiday Line theme of the classical music festival is aimed at recapturing the summer holiday nostalgia of the 1950s and early 1960s when the railway line brought hoardes of holiday-makers to the East Neuk.
A film entitled The Holiday Line has also been commissioned for the festival, taking a look at the ghosts of railways past in the region.
The train’s stop in Crail will be limited, as it is due to go on Monday.
Another sand sculpture being created along the coast on Elie beach on Sunday will have an even shorter lifespan.
When it’s complete and the tide starts coming in, it will look like the train is coming out of the water.
But as the tide continues to roll in, the sculpture will be washed away.
Festival organisers are appealing for people to help Jamie create the train.
Its length will depend on how many volunteers turn out.
Sculpting will begin at 11am and the tide is due to be at just the right level at around 5pm.