Crathes (Castle) Station
Opened : 8th September 1853 (as private platform)
Opened : 1st January 1863 (as public station)
Closed : 28th February 1966
Click here to see this location on the UK Ordanace Survey Map
Opened : 1st January 1863 (as public station)
Closed : 28th February 1966
Click here to see this location on the UK Ordanace Survey Map
Crathes (Castle) Station was built in 1853 as a private halt, but was rebuilt in 1863 to be opened as a public station following
the closure of nearby Mills of Drum to the east of the station. Crathes was the subject of dispute in Great North of Scotland
Railway days, as estate required all trains to stop at Crathes (in return for permitting the railway to use estate land), yet the
Royal Messenger trains did not do so.
Today Crathes Station retains both its platforms (although the trackbed has become overgrown with trees) and a replica of the old signalbox has been erected. The station building survives in use as a residential building and I am informed by its owner that many original features such as the booking office counter survive intact.
A short distance to the west of Crathes Station is the Milton of Crathes Arts & Crafts Village. This was built after closure of the line by the Crathes Estate and is home to a number of excellent businesses, including The Milton restaurant. The Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society are attempting to reinstate the "Deeside Line" between Banchory & the Milton of Crathes, and have established a Visitor Centre (open through the summer) at the Milton Arts & Crafts Village (the future site of Milton of Crathes Station) to publicise their plans. The first three pictures at the bottom of the page illustrate the visitor centre - the first, taken in 2000, shows the location some months before construction began, the second picture shows the recently laid track and shows the two coaches (BSOT 9100 & TSO 5156) in February 2002 shortly after the BSOT was delivered. The two coaches were extensively refurbished and repainted prior to being opened in May 2002 as the Visitor Centre, and the third picture shows the other side of the two coaches part-way through a repaint.
The fourth picture shows the progress being made to reinstate the railway in October 2003
The Royal Deeside Railway recieved planning approval in 2003 and will eventually use the two visitor centre coaches for passenger services. The scene at the Milton of Crathes has changed since most pictures were taken (the bottom-right picture is the most recent - October 2003). To find out more about the society and their plans, visit the website http://www.deeside-railway.co.uk.
Today Crathes Station retains both its platforms (although the trackbed has become overgrown with trees) and a replica of the old signalbox has been erected. The station building survives in use as a residential building and I am informed by its owner that many original features such as the booking office counter survive intact.
A short distance to the west of Crathes Station is the Milton of Crathes Arts & Crafts Village. This was built after closure of the line by the Crathes Estate and is home to a number of excellent businesses, including The Milton restaurant. The Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society are attempting to reinstate the "Deeside Line" between Banchory & the Milton of Crathes, and have established a Visitor Centre (open through the summer) at the Milton Arts & Crafts Village (the future site of Milton of Crathes Station) to publicise their plans. The first three pictures at the bottom of the page illustrate the visitor centre - the first, taken in 2000, shows the location some months before construction began, the second picture shows the recently laid track and shows the two coaches (BSOT 9100 & TSO 5156) in February 2002 shortly after the BSOT was delivered. The two coaches were extensively refurbished and repainted prior to being opened in May 2002 as the Visitor Centre, and the third picture shows the other side of the two coaches part-way through a repaint.
The fourth picture shows the progress being made to reinstate the railway in October 2003
The Royal Deeside Railway recieved planning approval in 2003 and will eventually use the two visitor centre coaches for passenger services. The scene at the Milton of Crathes has changed since most pictures were taken (the bottom-right picture is the most recent - October 2003). To find out more about the society and their plans, visit the website http://www.deeside-railway.co.uk.
NOTE : The Milton of Crathes site pictured in the fourth picture is a work site and as such is OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC. Please keep to the new walk-path, which starts next to the entrance to the railway visitor centre (and farmer's field access).
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