ELLON TO DYCE WALK
By Bill Reid
From a walk over the track bed of the Ex GNSR branch line from Ellon To Dyce on the 30th of September 2014.
From Dyce Junction, seven miles from Aberdeen, the 'Broch' line as it was known ran for 40 miles to Fraserburgh. At
Maud junction passenger trains split into two separate trains with one half continuing to Fraserburgh and the other
to Peterhead. Passenger servies ceased in 1965 with the Peterhead closing completely in 1970 and to Fraserburgh
in 1979 after a hundred years of service.
I was lucky enough to become a secondman at Kittybrewster loco depot in 1963 and enjoyed a number of trips over
both branches until the end of 1964 when I moved south to keep my job, as the railways around Aberdeen started to
close down. I always held happy memories of the line.
The line ran through very sparse farming country and passenger use was always very low and services never did reach
the point of being useful as a commuter railway. Likewise, this was avery long way around to both Terminal stations
that were between 14-15 miles shorter by road and buses were always able to cut the railways by distance and fares.
Fish traffic was a big user of the routes but gradually diverted away to the roads.
Walking the track bed on the 30th of September 2014 made it exacly 50 years from when I last worked over this
route and I found it very interesting searching out what remains there still was and trying to remember it as it
was. I had forgotten how much of it ran through very pleasant countryside.
It was also very interesting hearing that there is a stong possibility of the line reopening once again, from Dyce
to Ellon, with further thoughts of extending to Fraserburgh and Peterhead in the more distant future. It would be
very nice if the line becames full active once again.
Links: Kittybrewster Memories Ellon To Boddam Walks Dundee To Newtyle Incline Railway Walks Royal Deeside Railway Maud To Peterhead Cycle-Way High Peak Railway Trail Walks
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Contact reidcrcwdr@talktalk.net