Royal Deeside Railway

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.

Royal Deeside Railway
former route to Ballater
 Banchory
Silverstripe Carriage Shed
Bridge of Bennie
West Lodge Yard
Birkenbaud Crossing
Milton of Crathes
former route to Aberdeen

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.

Future

Work is underway to reinstate the railway between Banchory and Milton of Crathes, with a new station which has been constructed at Milton of Crathes[1] and one mile of track laid towards Banchory.

The railway is planning to install a new bridge parallel to the Bridge of Bennie to carry the Deeside Way. This will allow track to be re-laid across the original bridge.[2]

Locomotives
  • Steam locomotives
    • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 807 "Bon-Accord". Operational (Ex Aberdeen Gas Works).
    • Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST No. 2139 "Salmon". Boiler ticket expired 1 January 2019, a contract overhaul is being arranged.
  • Diesel locomotives
  • Multiple units
    • BR BEMU unit 79998+79999. Operational (as hauled coaching stock)

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 Railway engine shed at Aberdeen Ferryhill, next to 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).

See also

References
  1. 57.0564°N 2.4292°W / 57.0564; -2.4292
  2. Hall, Jamie (28 September 2020). "Next phase of north-east bridge project completed". Evening Express. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
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