| Details |
Remains of a railway station which is depicted on historic OS maps. Building of the Deeside extension railway began in 1852 and the line opened in 1853 from Aberdeen to Banchory, which included stations at Cults, Murtle, Culter, a private platform at Crathes Castle, and Banchory. Cults station followed the standard style of many stations introduced at that time, constructed of wood with a hipped roof. The building on the Aberdeen bound platform, consisted of a booking office, general waiting hall, staff accommodation and toilets. The construction of a second platform was completed in 1880 but The Board of Trade said a shelter must be provided. The Deeside Railway Board's Minutes from the 24 July 1884 show that the cost of constructing the verandah (the official name for the waiting shelter) was £106. 15. 0. A wooden footbridge connected the two platforms (cost not to exceed £150) was replaced in the 1930s by a metal one when the wood had rotted. Originally the Deeside railway had been authorised to construct their line on 16 July 1846 but this was delayed by the construction of the Aberdeen Railway terminus to Ferryhill. The scheme was re-authorised on 28 May 1852. At first the Deeside railway used the terminus at Ferryhill but when Aberdeen Railway opened their extension in to Guild Street Station in 1854, the Deeside line went with them and used that station. The Deeside Railway that had opened in 1853 amalgamated with the Great North of Scotland Railway by 1876 (the latter had leased the line since 1862). The lower Deeside residents had to wait for a double track from Aberdeen to Culter to be built before suburban trains could run as they did at Donside. The lower Deeside suburban service opened in 1892 and was immediately popular, taking twenty minutes to go the 7 3/8 miles, the original suburban service of 8 trains doubled in 1900. The Deeside service ran separately from the suburban train service on the Donside and there was a minority of through working. This was mainly due to the cramped conditions of the Joint Station, which opened in 1867. At this time there was only one through platform. In 1923 the Great North of Scotland Railway became absorbed into the Northern Scottish area of London and North Eastern Railway. On 28th January 1937 it was announced that after April 1937 the suburban service was to end. Fourteen stations closed as a result of rivalry from bus services and the waning popularity of the train service. However, Cults station continued to be used for the Aberdeen to Ballater railway service. The Deeside line was mentioned in the Beeching Report of 1963 as a loss-making railway, which resulted in its closure to passengers on 28th February 1966. Goods traffic to the Culter Paper Mills kept the line open for freight until 30 December 1966. RCAHMS site visit in 1997 recorded the timber station building on the south side of the disused track bed, then in use as a store and office, with a modern extension to the west. Both platforms also remain.
|
Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ80SE0147 - CULTS STATION