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Aboyne And Braemar Railway
All photographs of this railway in date order.
![The BMU entering Ballater station (probably on the 15:25 service from Aberdeen).<br><br>[David Murray-Smith 08/08/1959]](/images/63000/63418.jpg "Ballater")
![A Cravens 2-car DMU arriving at Ballater with the 3.10pm service from Aberdeen on 14 April 1960. [Ref query 8 January 2018]<br><br>[David Murray-Smith 14/04/1960]](/images/62000/62436.jpg "Ballater")
![End of the line at Ballater in the summer of 1962, showing the beginnings of the proposed extension to Braemar that never took place. [See image 37507]<br><br>[R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1962]](/images/37000/37499.jpg "Ballater")
![The next train to Aberdeen via the Deeside line stands at the platform at Ballater in July 1962. Closure of the line came 4 years later.<br><br>[R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) /07/1962]](/images/36000/36596.jpg "Ballater")
![General view of Ballater station on the Royal Deeside line in July 1962. The line closed in 1966 and the refurbished station building has since become a visitor centre and museum. The next train for Aberdeen stands at the platform.<br><br>[R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 07/07/1962]](/images/36000/36796.jpg "Ballater")
![View across the platforms at Dinnet station in June 1963 looking towards Aboyne.<br><br>[Colin Miller /06/1963]](/images/22000/22909.jpg "Dinnet")
![The signal box at Dinnet in June 1963.<br><br>[Colin Miller /06/1963]](/images/22000/22936.jpg "Dinnet")
![The photographer's son looks back anxiously at Ballater in the summer of 1965, wondering whether they are just going to catch the train by the skin of their teeth... again! <br><br>[Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //1965]](/images/27000/27403.jpg "Ballater")
![Photograph taken from an Aberdeen bound train looking towards Dinnet station on the Royal Deeside line in the summer of 1965.<br><br>[Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //1965]](/images/27000/27550.jpg "Dinnet")
![Approach to the boarded up Ballater station in 1974.<br><br>[Colin Miller //1974]](/images/31000/31574.jpg "Ballater")
![View over Ballater station site in 1975, some 9 years after closure. The main buildings facing onto Station Square have now been impressively restored and now form a museum and exhibition centre commemorating the former Royal station, much loved by Queen Victoria... God Bless Her.. (See 5779/5781) <br><br>[Colin Miller //1975]](/images/21000/21565.jpg "Ballater")
![Looking along the trackbed at Ballater in March 1975, some 9 years after closure.<br><br>[Colin Miller /03/1975]](/images/24000/24392.jpg "Ballater")
![Platform view west under the canopy at Ballater in 1975.<br><br>[Colin Miller /03/1975]](/images/24000/24405.jpg "Ballater")
![The River Dee at Cambus.<br><br>[Ken Strachan //1976]](/images/13000/13687.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![The parapet and shadow (North side) of the viaduct between Torphins and Lumphanan. This structure was demolished with explosives in the 1980's. [see image 13695]<br><br>[Ken Strachan /06/1976]](/images/13000/13686.jpg "Torphins")
![Dinnet station was also rarely photographed. It was used as a garage by this time. The Hillman Hunter GT on the left would have been about 4 years old when photographed.<br><br>[Ken Strachan /07/1976]](/images/13000/13691.jpg "Dinnet")
![Cambus before renovation (circa 1984) - notice the pillars for the station sign. View looks towards Ballater. [see image 34858] for a later view of this station restored - in colour, even.<br><br>[Ken Strachan /08/1976]](/images/13000/13688.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Ballater station in 1979-81 (going by my fathers Triumph - notice the Morris Oxford, which was ancient even then!)<br><br>[Ken Strachan //1980]](/images/13000/13690.jpg "Ballater")
![Late winter photo of the former station building in Cambus o'May at that time under conversion to a small private residence. Part of the famous white suspension bridge is just visible in the left background over the trackbed below Culblean Hill. This part of the bridge was removed in 1988 at the same time as the deck was replaced. The Deeside Way was a long time in the future but it was still possible to walk or, with great difficulty, cycle on the full-depth ballast in an easterly direction to Dinnet Station. To the west a footpath/cycleway was already taking shape all the way into Ballater.<br><br>[Charlie Niven /02/1980]](/images/59000/59122.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Ballater station was in need of some renovation in 1997 but was in use (as 'The Station Restaurant' amongst other things) and in a generally good state of repair. This view looks east towards Aberdeen. This building dated from the 1886 major reconstruction of the station during which a royal waiting room was provided, the track layout considerably altered and new carriage shed provided.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/38000/38352.jpg "Ballater")
![View west to Braemar from the trackbed at Bridge of Gairn, just west of Ballater. When the line arrived at Ballater in 1866 the trackbed did not extend beyond. Shortly afterwards earthworks were continued west, under a new road bridge west of the station, to Bridge of Gairn before work ceased. These earthworks remain in fairly good repair for some of the length, now being a dirt road as seen here. After Royal involvement blocked the railway's extension west to Braemar, one of several plans for this extension was for it to meet a tramway to Ballochbuie Forest, just east of Braemar, for timber extraction.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55566.jpg "Bridge of Gairn")
![View west to the terminus at Ballater in 1997. The long main platform is in the centre, the goods yard was to the right, and the bay platform and carriage sheds were to the left. [See image 36796].<br><br>
<br><br>
In later years the platform was served by the unique Battery Electric Multiple Unit set which was built specifically for the line in the 1950s. The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board pushed the British Transport Commission to assess the concept, both hoping for a reduction in costs. The train was charged at Ballater and Aberdeen. It can now be found on the Deeside Railway at Milton of Crathes.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55573.jpg "Ballater")
![View east from the platform end at Ballater showing the trackbed now largely occupied by housing.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55578.jpg "Ballater")
![Informative signboard at Cambus O' May in 1997 with a map of the line, scene with the battery rail car and crests of the Deeside Railway, Aboyne and Braemar Railway and GNSR.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55583.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![View westbound at Dinnet goods, just over the level crossing from the station.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55587.jpg "Dinnet")
![View towards Aberdeen from the estate office (former station building) at Dinnet showing the two platforms in 1997. With permission of the estate. A formal walkway now runs up the trackbed here.<br><br>[Ewan Crawford 04/02/1997]](/images/55000/55592.jpg "Dinnet")
![The banner above Ballater station on 3 November 2005 reads <I>'The Old Royal Station. Tourist Information, Shops, Restaurant, Royalty & Railways Exhibition.'</I> Since closure in 1966 the building has been completely refurbished and converted to a tourist information/visitor centre and museum.<br><br>[John Furnevel 03/11/2005]](/images/5000/5779.jpg "Ballater")
![The main entrance to the former Ballater station on 3 November 2005. <br><br>[John Furnevel 03/11/2005]](/images/5000/5780.jpg "Ballater")
![<I>'See me! Ah'm no amused either ma'am!!!'</I> The stress of a delayed departure begins to show in The Royal Waiting Room. Scene in the museum at Ballater station, in November 2005, with wax figures commemorating the last journey of Queen Victoria (God bless Her) from the station.<br><br>[John Furnevel 03/11/2005]](/images/5000/5781.jpg "Ballater")
![Looking east along the platform at Ballater in November 2005 showing the extension to the museum.<br><br>[John Furnevel 03/11/2005]](/images/5000/5841.jpg "Ballater")
![What is now 'The Deeside Way' passing the former station at Cambus o' May in November 2005. The view along the old trackbed is east towards Aberdeen.<br><br>[John Furnevel 05/11/2005]](/images/5000/5830.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![The former station at Cambus O' May on the Deeside line, closed along with the line in February 1966 . The privately owned building is seen from what is now The Deeside Way on an autumn day in November 2005. View is west towards the old terminus at Ballater [see image 5780].<br><br>[John Furnevel 05/11/2005]](/images/34000/34858.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Nice place to work. Platform side view at Dinnet looking east towards Aboyne in November 2006. The old station building was being used as an office by the local estate.<br><br>[John Furnevel 10/11/2006]](/images/5000/5835.jpg "Dinnet")
![The former station at Dinnet, between Ballater and Aboyne, seen looking south on 10 November 2006. Platform remains stand beyond the fence and at the time of the visit the building itself was in use as an estate office. Note the totem in place on the front of the building. <br><br>[John Furnevel 10/11/2006]](/images/33000/33815.jpg "Dinnet")
![The split-level station building at Dinnet on the former Deeside line, photographed looking south from the A93 in November 2006. The platform entrance from the car park was between the white posts centre right [see image 22909]. <br><br>[John Furnevel 10/11/2006]](/images/36000/36708.jpg "Dinnet")
![The A93 overbridge where it crosses the stub of the Braemar extension just west of Ballater station, photographed on 31 May 2009. Access below the bridge is now blocked by a steel fence. The permanent way west of the bridge has been partly in-filled and there is now a foot-path in its place. [See image 37499] <br><br>[John Williamson 31/05/2009]](/images/37000/37507.jpg "Ballater")
![Restored main entrance to the former Ballater Station, June 2009.<br><br>[David Pesterfield 26/06/2009]](/images/24000/24364.jpg "Ballater")
![View along the former Ballater Station platform towards Aberdeen in June 2009.<br><br>[David Pesterfield 26/06/2009]](/images/24000/24377.jpg "Ballater")
![The restored former station (closed 1966) at Ballater, seen in June 2009. The building now houses a tourist information centre, museum and restaurant.<br><br>[David Pesterfield 26/06/2009]](/images/24000/24380.jpg "Ballater")
![Platform view looking west at Ballater on 26 June showing the extension built to accommodate part of the Old Station Museum.<br><br>[David Pesterfield 26/06/2009]](/images/24000/24431.jpg "Ballater")
![The single platform at Cambus o' May looking south-east along the trackbed on 15 October 2012. The River Dee is immediately to the right and beyond the platform there was at one time a siding and loading bank. Next to the loading bank the frames of an old wagon were lying on the ground slowly disappearing into the undergrowth.<br><br>[John McIntyre 15/10/2012]](/images/40000/40784.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Looking east over the site of the level crossing at Dinnet on 20 October 2012 with the Ballater bound platform on the right but with most of the station building obscured by the trees on the left. [See image 22936] for a similar view when the crossing gates, signal box and track were still in place.<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/10/2012]](/images/40000/40879.jpg "Dinnet")
![Photograph taken at Dinnet on the Deeside line in October 2012. What at first looked like a tree stump turned out to be a surviving crane pivot. [Ref query 11500] [See image 27750]<br><br>[John McIntyre 20/10/2012]](/images/45000/45897.jpg "Dinnet")
![The old station building at Cambus o' May, Deeside line, looking west to Ballater on 26 December. The two concrete posts which held the station name board, presumably late LNER or BR, still stand on the right.<br><br>[Brian Taylor 26/12/2013]](/images/45000/45785.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![The old station building at Cambus o May looking east towards Dinnet and Aboyne on 26 December. The river Dee can just be seen through the trees on the right. Surely few prettier locations for a station anywhere. <br><br>[Brian Taylor 26/12/2013]](/images/45000/45793.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![The Deeside Line immediately west of Cambus o' May, delineated by the retaining wall and fence on the right. Looking west to Ballater, the trackbed no more than 5m from the river. The house at mid-distance is called <I>Cutaway Cottage</I>, a diagonal slice having been taken from its gable end to give clearance to passing trains. <br><br>[Brian Taylor 26/12/2013]](/images/45000/45805.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Ballater station fire May 2015 - restaurant entrance.<br><br>[Drew McLelland 18/05/2015]](/images/6000/6555.jpg "Ballater")
![Ballater station following the fire in May 2015 - main station entrance.<br><br>[Drew McLelland 18/05/2015]](/images/8000/8049.jpg "Ballater")
![Ballater station fire May 2015 - station frontage.<br><br>[Drew McLelland 18/05/2015]](/images/9000/9823.jpg "Ballater")
![The severely fire damaged Ballater station on 28 July 2015. The whole site is currently secured behind a wooden hoarding awaiting further developments [see image 5779].<br><br>[Andy Furnevel 28/07/2015]](/images/52000/52095.jpg "Ballater")
![The station building and platform at Cambus 'O May on a very cold February day. Looking east towards Dinnet.<br><br>[Brian Taylor 13/02/2016]](/images/54000/54228.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![The suspension bridge at Cambus 'O May which gave access from south bank of river Dee to the railway station throughout GNoSR, LNER and BR days. Sadly damaged in the December 2015 storms/floods. From a quick look main suspension cables, end towers and anchor blocks OK. Deck needs remedial work.<br><br>[Brian Taylor 13/02/2016]](/images/54000/54250.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Ballater Station site, with the area screened off and a scaffold 'tent' in place.<br><br>[John Gray 05/04/2016]](/images/54000/54775.jpg "Ballater")
![Hoardings protect ongoing work on the badly fire damaged Ballater station building <br><br>[John Yellowlees 30/04/2016]](/images/54000/54981.jpg "Ballater")
![A victim of the Beeching cuts,The Deeside Line closed in 1966. It ran from Aberdeen to Ballater and was used by Queen Victoria and subsequent royals on their trips to Balmoral Castle.Cambus O' May was a small single platform station four miles east of Ballater. The picture shows the former station as it is today. The building is the original and is now privately owned. View looking west.<br>
<br>
John.<br>
<br>
<br><br>[John Gray 27/07/2016]](/images/56000/56101.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Ballater station this morning, still a long way to go until it's rebuilt. The old photographs on the screening are very interesting.<br><br>[Alan Cormack 16/03/2017]](/images/58000/58484.jpg "Ballater")
![Cambus O May this morning, the footbridge across the Dee just west of the station is still shut due to being damaged in the flooding over a year ago.<br><br>[Alan Cormack 16/03/2017]](/images/58000/58494.jpg "Cambus o^ May")
![Dinnet station, the platform weighing machine is still intact alongside the estate office.<br><br>[Alan Cormack 16/03/2017]](/images/58000/58500.jpg "Dinnet")
![View over the rear of the fire damaged Ballater station on the morning of 14 April 2017, with the camera held at full stretch above the barrier.<br><br>[Andy Furnevel 14/04/2017]](/images/58000/58891.jpg "Ballater")
![Inside looking out. View south across the platforms at Dinnet from the former station on 20 April 2017. Following closure of the line the building was fitted out for use as an office by the Dinnet & Kinord Estate. (Note the circular window, once occupied by the platform - facing station clock) [see image 22909]. The trackbed here now forms part of the Deeside Way. [Ref query 1001] <br><br>[Andy Furnevel 20/04/2017]](/images/58000/58970.jpg "Dinnet")
![The former station building at Dinnet on 20 April 2017 looking east along the platform towards Aboyne. Note the unusual round window, installed as a replacement for the old station clock during conversion to office accommodation [see image 58970].<br><br>[Andy Furnevel 20/04/2017]](/images/59000/59119.jpg "Dinnet")
![The former station building at Dinnet, complete with totem, now an office. Seen from the approach road in April 2017.<br><br>[Andy Furnevel 20/04/2017]](/images/59000/59188.jpg "Dinnet")
![Old timetable for the Deeside line retained by staff in the estate office at the former Dinnet station. Note the first train from Aberdeen at 8.5am covers the 41 miles to Ballater in 1 hour 40 minutes, arriving at 9.45am. Note also the motor coach connection times for the additional 16 miles to Braemar! [See image 40737] <br><br>[Andy Furnevel 20/04/2017]](/images/59000/59218.jpg "Dinnet")
![Ballater Station under restoration after the fire in May 2015.<br><br>[Bill Roberton 24/03/2018]](/images/63000/63522.jpg "Ballater")
![Front elevation of Ballater station on the morning of 5 April 2018, with recovery work well advanced, three years on from the disastrous fire [see image 9823].<br><br>[Andy Furnevel 05/04/2018]](/images/63000/63575.jpg "Ballater")
