Pitfodels railway station

Pitfodels
Pitfodels
	Pitfodels station site in 2005
General information
Location	Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire ; Scotland
Coordinates	57°07′14″N2°09′22″W / 57.1205°N 2.1561°W
Grid reference	NJ906033
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	Great North of Scotland Railway
Pre-grouping	Great North of Scotland Railway
Post-grouping	LNER
Key dates
2 July 1894	Station opened
1926	Renamed Pitfodels Halt
5 April 1937	Station closed to passengers
02 January 1967	Line closed to freight

Last updated March 03, 2024

Pitfodels railway station^[1] or Pitfodels Halt^[1] was opened on 2 July 1894 by the GNoSR and served a suburb of Aberdeen with housing and estates such as Wellwood, Inchgarth and Norwood.^[2] The halt was one of several victims of the 1937 closure of stations on the Aberdeen suburban service.^[3] The Deeside Railway itself ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Pitfodels is located in the parish of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

History

The station was opened in August 1894^[1] as part of a new Aberdeen suburban service on a section of the Deeside branch. At first the branch services had been operated by the Deeside Railway. The line became part of the GNoSR who opened Pitfodels and at grouping merged with the London and North Eastern Railway. Pitfodels became an unstaffed halt in 1926 due to low passenger usage.^[4] and was closed to passengers on 5 April 1937^[1] as a part of the withdrawal of the Aberdeen suburban service that had been the victim of increasing competition from bus services. After its closure in 1937 the line itself remained open to Ballater until 1966. Cults and Ruthrieston stations were only a short distance away. The line has been lifted and this sections forms part of the Deeside Way long-distance footpath.

Infrastructure

The typical 1894 GNoSR design wooden station with a 'hipped' roof had a booking office, general waiting hall, staff accommodation and toilets. The main building stood on the eastbound platform on a section of track doubled at the time of its opening.^[2] A simple wooden shelter stood on the westbound platform with a pedestrian overbridge connecting the two. No goods yard, sidings or crossover points were present. Signals are marked however no signalbox is indicated on OS maps. A road overbridge stood at the eastern end of the station.^[2] By 1951 the line had been singled^[3] with the westbound track lifted.^[5]

Services

In 1928, the suburban railway service, with stations at Holburn Street, Ruthrieston, Pitfodels, Cults, West Cults, Murtle, Milltimber and Culter, locally called the 'subbies' started additionally operating Sunday, services however due to competition with the buses it was announced on 28 January 1937 that the service would cease altogether in April 1937, Sunday services having ceased in 1936. It had once been very popular, the journey taking around twenty minutes to go the seven or so miles. The 1894 service of eight trains had doubled in 1900.^[6] Suburban stations were only able to issue passengers tickets to stations served by the suburban train service.^[6]

The site today

The enlarged and refurbished main station building survives, as does the stationmaster's cottage and both overgrown platforms remain with the trackbed in use as part of the Deeside Way.^[3]^[7] The Royal Deeside Railway is located at Milton of Crathes some distance down the line towards Ballater.

Related Research Articles

Dess railway station was opened on 2 December 1859 on the Deeside Extension Railway and served the rural area around Dess House and estate from 1859 to 1966 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Portessie railway station was a joint Highland Railway (HR) and Great North of Scotland Railway (GNoSR) station at the junction between the Moray Coast Railway and the Buckie and Portessie Branch which also served the small fishing village of Portessie, in the parish of Rathven, Scottish county of Moray.

Culter railway station was opened on 8 September 1853 by the Deeside Railway and served the town of Peterculter that is locally known as Culter. The Deeside Railway was taken over by the GNoSR and in 1894 Culter was the terminus for the Aberdeen suburban service although a few trains continued to Banchory. Despite the 1937 closure of many other stations on the Aberdeen suburban service, Culter remained open until 1966 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Culter is located in the parish of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Holburn Street railway station was a railway station in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was opened in July 1894 by the GNSR and served a suburb of Aberdeen near Duthie Park and Allenvale Cemetery. The station was one of several victims of the 1937 closure of stations on the Aberdeen suburban service. The Deeside Railway itself eventually ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Dinnet railway station was opened on 17 October 1866 by the Aboyne and Braemar Railway and served Dinnet village from 1899 to 1966 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Dinnet is located close to the River Dee in the parish of Glenmuick, Tullich And Glengairn, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Cambus O'May railway station or Cambus O'May Halt, served Aberdeenshire, Scotland from 1876 to 1966 on the Deeside Railway. It was intended to serve the anglers on the River Dee, tourists, the 1874 Cambus O'May House hunting lodge and the local population of this rural district and stood 39 3⁄8 miles (63.4 km) from the Aberdeen (Joint) station. It was the last stop before Ballater.

Lumphanan railway station, Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland stood from 1859 to 1966 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. It served the village of Lumphanan, Aberdeenshire, famous for its associations with Macbeth and King Malcolm III. It stood close to the Macbeth Arms Hotel.

Torphins railway station served the village of Torphins from 1859 to 1966 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Glassel railway station is a disused railway station in Britain. It served Glassel House, the Mill of Beltie and the local farms and the inhabitants of this rural area from 1859 to 1966 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Aboyne Curling Pond railway station, Loch of Aboyne Platform or Curlers' Platform was a private station opened on the Deeside Extension Railway for the use of the curlers, who played on the nearby Loch of Aboyne close to the old Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Murtle railway station, later Murtle Halt railway station served Murtle and Beaconhill Houses and estates, the Mill of Murtle, Milton of Murtle, the local farms and the inhabitants of this rural area within the parish of Peterculter from 1853 to 1937 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater.

Milltimber railway station served the Milltimber area within the parish of Peterculter from 1854 to 1937 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. This area at that time had a number of mansion houses, estates, etc. such as Culter House, Fairgirth House, Camphill House, Avondow House, Glasterberry House, etc. whose workers, etc. would have used the station. Milltimber was only a short distance from Murtle station. The station was named for the nearby Milltimber Farm.

Bieldside railway station served the Bieldside area within the parish of Peterculter from 1897 to 1937 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. This area was the location of a number of mansion houses and estates such as Woodthorpe, Dalmunzie, The Firs, etc., some built as a result of the railway.

West Cults railway station served the small suburban village of West Cults area within the parish of Peterculter from 1894 to 1937 on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. It lay very close to Cults and Bieldside.

Cults railway station was opened on 8 September 1853 by the Deeside Railway and served part of Cults with mansion houses such as Southfield, Wellwood, Woodbank, Inchgarth, Drumgarth and Norwood nearby. The Deeside Railway station was replaced in 1855 by a new GNoSR that remained open, despite the 1937 closure of many other stations on the Aberdeen suburban service, until 1966 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Cults is located in the parish of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Ruthrieston railway station or Ruthrieston Halt was opened in January 1856 by the GNSR and served Ruthrieston, now a suburb of Aberdeen. The halt was one of several victims of the 1937 closure of stations on the Aberdeen suburban service. The Deeside Railway itself eventually ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Ruthrieston is located in the parish of Peterculter, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Drum railway station was opened in January 1854 by the Deeside Railway and served the rural area around Drum Castle estate. The Deeside Railway was taken over by the GNoSR and in 1894 nearby Culter became the terminus for the majority of Aberdeen suburban services with only a few trains continuing through Drum to Banchory. Despite the 1937 closure of many other stations on the Aberdeen suburban service, Drum remained open until 1951 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Drum station was located in Drumoak Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Mills of Drum railway station was opened in September 1853 by the Deeside Railway and served the rural area around Park House and Crathes estates at the Mills of Drum or Drum Mills, corn mills, that lay close to the River Dee. The Deeside Railway was taken over by the GNoSR in the 1860s. Mills of Drum only remained open until 1863 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Mills of Drum station was located in Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Park railway station was opened in September 1853 by the Deeside Railway and served the rural area around the Park estate, Nether Sunnyside, West Redford and the hamlet of Park. The Deeside Railway was taken over by the GNoSR and in 1894 nearby Culter became the terminus for the majority of Aberdeen suburban services with only a few trains continuing through Park to Banchory. Despite the 1937 closure of many other stations on the Aberdeen suburban service, Park remained open until 1966 as an intermediate station on the Deeside Railway that ran from Aberdeen (Joint) to Ballater. Park station was located in Drumoak Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Butt 1995, p. 186.
1 2 3 Kincardineshire, 007.02, Surveyed: 1899, Published: 1901
1 2 3 Maxtone, Graham (2018). Then and Now on the Great North. V.1. GNoSR Association. p. 10.
↑ Disused Railway Stations
↑ NJ9003-NJ9103 - AB - Surveyed/Revised: 1962, Published:1967
1 2 Aberdeen City SMR - NJ90SW0075 - PITFODELS STATION
↑ Canmore - Pitfodels Station

Sources

Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
Maxtone, Graham and Cooper, Mike (2018). Then and Now on the Great North. V.1. GNoSR Association. ISBN 978-0902343-30-6.

External links

Film of the station and the Deeside line.

Preceding station	Historical railways			Following station
Ruthrieston Line and station closed		Great North of Scotland Railway Deeside Railway		Cults Line and station closed

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[FOOTNOTEButt1995186-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Butt 1995, p. 186.

[no-2] 1 2 3 Kincardineshire, 007.02, Surveyed: 1899, Published: 1901

[MX-3] 1 2 3 Maxtone, Graham (2018). Then and Now on the Great North. V.1. GNoSR Association. p. 10.

[4] Disused Railway Stations

[5] NJ9003-NJ9103 - AB - Surveyed/Revised: 1962, Published:1967

[AC-6] 1 2 Aberdeen City SMR - NJ90SW0075 - PITFODELS STATION

[7] Canmore - Pitfodels Station

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v t e Great North of Scotland Railway
Constituent railways	Aberdeen and Turriff (originally Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction) Aboyne & Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Extension Banffshire (originally Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla) Deeside Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Morayshire Strathspey
Successor railway	London and North Eastern
Heritage railways	Alford Valley Keith and Dufftown Royal Deeside Strathspey
Rail trails	Deeside Way Formartine and Buchan Way
Aberdeen–Inverness line List of Great North of Scotland Railway stations Locomotives of the Great North of Scotland Railway

v t e Settlements and places of interest in Marr, Aberdeenshire
Primary settlements	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins
Other settlements	Backburn Bellabeg Birse Birsemore Bogniebrae Brathens Brideswell Cairnie Corgarff Crathie Dinnet Finzean Forgue Gartly Inverey Keig Kennethmont Kildrummy Kincardine O'Neil Kirkton of Tough Logie Coldstone Lost Lumsden Monymusk Potarch Rhynie Ruthven Strachan Strathdon Tillyfourie Tornaveen Towie Tullich Whitehouse Ythanwells
Places of interest	Alford Valley Railway Badenyon Balmoral Castle Blelack Braemar Castle Burn O'Vat Cairn o' Mount Cairngorms National Park Castle Forbes Corgarff Castle Craigievar Castle Crathes Castle Crathie Kirk Forest of Birse Grampian Transport Museum Huntly Castle Kildrummy Castle Lochnagar Royal Deeside Royal Deeside Railway Yonder Bognie Ythan Wells (Glenmailen) Roman Camp

v t e Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City)
in Banff and Buchan	Aberchirder Banff Fraserburgh Gardenstown Inverallochy and Cairnbulg Macduff Portsoy Rosehearty Sandhaven Whitehills
in Buchan	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield
in Formartine	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff
in Garioch	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill
in Kincardine and Mearns	Drumoak Fettercairn Gourdon Inverbervie Johnshaven Laurencekirk Luthermuir Newtonhill Portlethen St Cyrus Stonehaven
in Marr	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins