King Edward railway station

King Edward railway station was a railway station at King Edward, King Edward Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland[3] on the rural branchline to Macduff. It was opened in 1860 to passengers by the Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway and was closed to regular passenger traffic in 1951. King Edward was 24 miles 42 chains (39.5 km) from the junction at Inveramsay[1] and 247 feet (75 m) above sea level.[4]

King Edward
King Edward railway station in 2019
LocationTurriff, Aberdeenshire
Scotland
Coordinates57.583°N 2.454°W / 57.583; -2.454
Grid referenceNJ 716 578
Platforms2 (1 from 1954)
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyBanff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway
Pre-groupingGreat North of Scotland Railway
Key dates
4 June 1860Opened to passengers
1 March 1861Opened to goods[1]
1 October 1951[2]Closed to passengers and goods
1 August 1961Closed to goods

History

The name "King Edward" originated from the Scottish Gaelic. The first element "King" or "kin" comes from "Ceann" meaning a headland and "Edward" may refer to "cathair-thalmhainn" that is a "Yarrow" plant in English. Another interpretation is "Head of the Valley".[5] The hamlet where the station was located is now known as "Balchers".

The station served the needs of the local farms in Buchan midway between Turriff and Banff, as well as the King Edward School that stood nearby as did the church and church hall. A rail tour visited on 13 June 1960.

Infrastructure

The main station buildings stood on the northern side of the single track line. At first the station only had a single platform, however a passing loop and a second platform were added in 1895.[6] King Edward's signalbox stood on the northern platform on the Plaidy end and was opened on 29 April 1895 and closed on 6 January 1936 when it was replaced by a ground frame.[1] A station house and cottage stood near the church hall.

The station had a pedestrian overbridge and a wooden shelter stood on the southern platform.[7] A road overbridge stood over the line to Plaidy. The goods yard was to the south and was approached from that side; it did not have a crane, but a weighing machine was provided. Two sidings were present with a loading dock.[8]

By 1954 the loop, footbridge and second platform had been removed, however the goods sidings were still in use.[9]

The site today

The station building survives as do some of the railway associated cottages.[6]

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Plaidy
Line and station closed
  Great North of Scotland Railway
Banff, Macduff and Turriff Extension Railway
  Macduff (Banff)
Line and station closed
    Banff Bridge
Line and station closed

References

Notes

  1. McLeish, p.79
  2. Butt 1995, p. 133.
  3. British Railways Atlas.1947. p.38
  4. McLeish, p.20
  5. McLeish, p.23
  6. RailScot - King Edward railway station
  7. McLeish, p.32
  8. Aberdeenshire V.9. King Edward. Survey date:1870. Publication date:1871
  9. McLeish, p.33

Sources

  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  • Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-086-0. OCLC 22311137.
  • McLeish, Duncan (2014). Rails to Banff, Macduff and Oldmeldrum. Pub. GNoSRA. ISBN 978-0902343-26-9.
  • RAILSCOT on Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway


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