Royal Deeside Railway
Encyclopedia
The Royal Deeside Railway was formed in 1996 with the intention of reclaiming part of the former branch line from Aberdeen
to Ballater
, constructed between 1853 and 1856 by the Deeside Railway company and closed by British Railways in 1966. Work is underway to reinstate the railway between Banchory
and Milton of Crathes
, with a new station under construction at Milton of Crathes
and one mile of track laid towards Banchory
.
The railway offers a passenger train service over 1 mile of track from Milton of Crathes
to Birkenbaud Crossing. The first steam-hauled passenger services were operated during 2010.
engine shed at Aberdeen Ferryhill, next to the Duthie Park
in Aberdeen. Aberdeen City Council
, owners of the shed, have now leased the site to the trust allowing them to proceed with making plans for the restoration of the building. It is hoped to establish a railway heritage centre and workshop facility using the building and surrounding land once major restoration work on the building is carried out.
Some of the vintage carriage collection owned by the Royal Deeside Railway are stored at Ferryhill, but the site is not presently open to public access for safety reasons.
It is hoped that in the future the locomotive turntable and sidings next to the shed may be made available to the trust for use (these are still owned by Network Rail
).
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to Ballater
Ballater
Ballater is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. Situated at a height of 123m in elevation, Ballater is a centre for hikers and known for its spring water, once said to cure scrofula.-History:The medieval pattern of development along...
, constructed between 1853 and 1856 by the Deeside Railway company and closed by British Railways in 1966. Work is underway to reinstate the railway between Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
and Milton of Crathes
Milton of Crathes
Milton of Crathes is a restored set of 17th century stone buildings, presently used for retail and restaurant purposes. The historic site is associated with, and was previously an outlier of Crathes Castle...
, with a new station under construction at Milton of Crathes
Milton of Crathes railway station
Milton of Crathes railway station is located at Milton of Crathes, three miles east of Banchory, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.-Crathes Station:...
and one mile of track laid towards Banchory
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
.
The railway offers a passenger train service over 1 mile of track from Milton of Crathes
Milton of Crathes
Milton of Crathes is a restored set of 17th century stone buildings, presently used for retail and restaurant purposes. The historic site is associated with, and was previously an outlier of Crathes Castle...
to Birkenbaud Crossing. The first steam-hauled passenger services were operated during 2010.
Locomotives
- Steam locomotives
- Aberdeen Gas Works Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 807 "Bon-Accord". Stopped for repair.
- Diesel locomotives
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 No. 415. Operational.
- BRBritish RailBritish Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
0-6-0 Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
no. D2094 / 03094. Operational. - BRBritish RailBritish Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
0-6-0 Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
no. D2134 / 03134. Stopped for repair. - BR 0-6-0 Class 14British Rail Class 14The British Rail Class 14 is a type of small diesel-hydraulic locomotive built in the mid-1960s. Twenty-six of these 0-6-0 locomotives were ordered in January 1963, to be built at British Railways Swindon Works. The anticipated work for this class was yard shunting, trip work and short distance...
no. D9551. Stopped for repair.
- Multiple units
- BR BEMUBritish Rail BEMUThe Battery Electric Multiple Unit was an experimental two-car multiple unit, built at the same time and in the same style as the prototype Derby Lightweight Diesel multiple units....
unit 79998+79999. Operational (as hauled coaching stock)
- BR BEMU
Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust
The Royal Deeside Railway is one of the members of the Ferryhill Railway Trust who are aiming to restore the former Caledonian RailwayCaledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
engine shed at Aberdeen Ferryhill, next to the Duthie Park
Duthie Park
Duthie park, situated in Aberdeen, Scotland, by the banks of the River Dee, comprises of land gifted to the council in 1881 by Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston, in memory of her uncle and of her brother...
in Aberdeen. Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen City Council represents the Aberdeen City council area of Scotland.The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. Act 1994...
, owners of the shed, have now leased the site to the trust allowing them to proceed with making plans for the restoration of the building. It is hoped to establish a railway heritage centre and workshop facility using the building and surrounding land once major restoration work on the building is carried out.
Some of the vintage carriage collection owned by the Royal Deeside Railway are stored at Ferryhill, but the site is not presently open to public access for safety reasons.
It is hoped that in the future the locomotive turntable and sidings next to the shed may be made available to the trust for use (these are still owned by Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
).