PETERCULTER TO FERRYHILL Jctn (Aberdeen)

Bill Reid

(PAGE ONE OF THREE)

"PETERCULTER TO MILLTIMBER"

The branch line from Aberdeen to Ballater was built in the 1860's. The first 10 miles was used as a suburban train service with a number of station from
Ferryhill Junction to Banchory. The northern Suburban service was from Aberdeen station to Dyce. Both servecies suffered from the formation of the
Aberdeen Suburban tram service that paralleled the railway serving the same areas directly from the City center. However the tram services suffered
the same fate with the development of buses.  The branch  continued to service  all the main stations until the Beeching cuts in the mid 1960's. Parts of
the branch westwards is also walkable but is split in many places making for long detours. Peterculter to Ferryhill is the only official trail.
There were nine stations over the six and a half miles from Aberdeen. Some stations had also changed their sites so that stations served the area
more conveniently.

 
Far western edge of Peterculter the railway embankment as the trail ends towards Park station site. The railway went over Burnside Road which leads onto Station Road South to the left just under
the bridge.   

 
On the western outskirts of Peterculter where the walk into Aberdeen begins.  There are plans for the railway trail to be extended on to Banchory. Only a very short way is available at the moment.
Likewise it is planned for the railway to reopen gain from Aberdeen to Banchory under the Crosscity Scheme

    
Up on the track bed on the bridge bridge over Burnside Road.

The second railway under bridge over Burnside Road approaching Culter station site.

 
The high railway embankment has been dropped to road level where the railway went over Station Road South prior to arriving at Peterculter station site.

The area covered here is from the West side of Peterculter to Ferryhill Junction, Aberdeen. The station seen are, Culter, Milltimber, Beildside, West Cults,
Cults, Pitfodles, Ruthrieston, Ferryhill Junction.

The station in earlier times with an omnibus waiting to pick up pasengers. Comparing this older view and the one below it appears that
there were numerous changes to the station and buildings including the signal box. (Author Unknown).

Culter Station, looking eastwards. Shows the signal box, over bridge and side road on the south side of station. By the signal box are
the singleline token catcher and the two subsdiary shunt signals into the siding and the paper mill. On the far right is the road that
came over the station linking the north and south sides. The bridge has been demolished and the road abandoned.
The station foot bridge has also been removed. (Author Unknown).

Here you see that the over bridge has gone but that the abandoned road still
exists and has been landscaped with a grand show of Daffodills in the Spring time.

 
Culter Station. Pronounced "Koot-ter". The 'L' is silent. The GNSR shortened the name to just 'Culter" for their station. The station served both Peterculter and Maryculter
as well as the local areas around. There was also a branch into Peterculter PaperMill that was the largest employer in the district. Nothing remains of the mill and the site is
now a housing estate. A short section of track bed remains and you can still see the weighbridge that was used. It was from this spot that number of sidings spread out within
the Mill site.

 
Decorated stones. Laid by local people.

 
Left: The cutouts for the knuckles and joints on the signalling cables. These assisted the signalman on the longest pulls.

Eastern end of Peterculter station site on the start of the track bed walk into Aberdeen.

Heading for Milltimber. An access over bridge crossed over the railway.

 
The remains of the access bridge. The left and right hand side embuttments.

 
A footpath follows the river making possible a circular walk using the path and the track bed.

 
The River Dee on the south side of the track bed.

 
Left: A picturesque view over the river Dee. Right: That's a big Dog!

  
Approaching Pittengullies Road where the railway bridge has been  removed.

 
Th ex railway bridge over Pittengullies Brae, that has been demolished.

On to the next Ex bridge crossing at Milltimber.

 
Scenes from the south embankment (South side).

Approaching the end of the track bed. Looking westwards. The bridge over Milltimber Brae has been demolished and the crossing
redesigned due the building of the Western Aberdeen By-Pass. That runs from near Stonehaven and ends in the Brig O' Don area to
the north of Aberdeen.

 
Approaching the Aberdeen western by-pass (A90). The deep gap has cut the railway off at this point and you have to cross the old
Milltimber road and walk up the easlern side until you come to Station Road and then cross the new bridge over the by-pass. This is
more or less where Milltimber Brae road went below the railway. The railway was double track between Culter and Milltimber.

  
From the road crossing. A path leads southwards to link the with Milltimber Brae running southwards towards Maryculter.

 
The gap over the new Aberdeen By-pass  begins here as the track bed meets the old Milltimber Brae road.

 
This path runs between the By-Pass and Milltimber Brae and on to Maryculter.is more or less the spot where Milltimber road went
below the railway.

      
Left: Ther new bridge over the by-pass heading northwards. Right: The railway continues from Milltimber station site on a high embankment towards Aberdeen.

 
The new bridge over the Western By-pass (A90). Walk northwards until you turn right onto the new Milltimber Brae bridge over the By-Pass into Station Road.

View southwards from By-Pass over bridge. Milltimber Brae bridge.

Crossing the top end of Milltimber Brae to cross over into Station Road.

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To Page Two: MILLTIMBER TO CULTS WEST

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