Ballater railway station

Ballater railway station is a former station in the village of Ballater in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The station was formerly the terminus of a branch line from Aberdeen.

It was the nearest station to Balmoral Castle, a personal residence of the British monarch.

History
Opened by the Great North of Scotland Railway it became part of the London and North Eastern Railway during the Grouping of 1923, passing on to the Scottish Region of British Railways during the nationalisation of 1948. It was then closed by the British Railways Board in 1966 (as part of the "Beeching cuts").

In August 1912, Ballater railway station played an important role when the body of Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, the son-in-law of King Edward VII, was transferred to Mar Lodge, Braemar, from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. On 9 August 1912 the Glasgow Herald reported on the funeral: 

Ballater Station was the location of an infamous event on 23 September 1936. On this day, King Edward VIII was due to open a new hospital in Aberdeen; however, he sent the then Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) in his place, citing that he was unable to attend as the Court was still in mourning. This was a foil. Edward VIII was seen at precisely the same time as the Yorks' opened the hospital, meeting Mrs Wallis Simpson off a train at Ballater Station. Mrs Simpson at the time was the mistress of Edward VIII though this fact was relatively unknown to the British public at this time owing to a 'silence' in the British press. Mrs Simpson was the King's special guest at Balmoral.

Services

Use following closure
The old station, containing Queen Victoria's waiting room, was a visitor centre with a replica royal carriage.

Fire

In the early hours of 12 May 2015, fire crews were called out to a major blaze at the station. The fire was fought for around three hours but reports say the building was "around 90 percent destroyed".

The fire is believed to have started in the Station Restaurant, one of several businesses at the station. The building has subsequently been restored and reopened.

See also
Royal Deeside Line

References

Further reading

External links
Film of the station and the Deeside line.

 Station on navigable O.S. map

Category:Disused railway stations in Aberdeenshire
Category:Railway stations opened in 1866
Category:Railway stations closed in 1966
Category:Beeching closures in Scotland
Category:Former Great North of Scotland Railway stations
Category:1966 disestablishments in Scotland
Category:1866 establishments in Scotland
Category:Ballater