48

The Denburn Valley railway was constructed about 1867, and Union Terrace Gardens was laid out a few years later. The closeness of the railway led to the gardens being nicknamed the 'Trainie Park'. The bandstand was removed in the 1930s. The iron footbridge which allowed access over the Denburn and the railway to the Rosemount area of the city was replaced by the Denburn Viaduct in the 1880s.

136

Six men working on Third Class Great North of Scotland Railway carriage No. 128

344

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913 and 1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr. J.A. Parker.

509

Signal box interior at Kittybewster North. Signalman operates levers.

510

Signalbox at Kittybrewster North. Signalman fills in train register.

511

Railway line to Inverness at Kittybrewster North showing signal box and signals in the foreground.

512

Signalbox at Kittybrewster with railway lines in the foreground.

531

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

532

A scene of change and renovation in the Denburn Valley. The image looks south from Union Bridge over the suburban platforms of the old Aberdeen Joint Railway Station. The old station's large, curved roof can be seen in the background. The area we are looking at has seen much change since this time. It is now largely covered by the 1960s retail development on the south side of the bridge, the later Trinity Centre, the development of Wapping Street and Denburn Road, and the building of Atholl House. Though many of the buildings of note we can see in this image are still visible today. The tall buildings on the far right are the rear of those on Bridge Street. The small street in front of them, going up to Guild Street, is the start of College Street. It is now a partially pedestrianised lane that goes under Wapping Street. The building at the top of this street is the classical style suburban ticket office, built 1909 and now home to Tiffany Hair & Beauty. Going west along Guild Street's two span road bridge we come to the Great North of Scotland Railway Company's headquarters. This was designed by architects Ellis & Wilson and built in 1894. It is now part of the Station Hotel, along with number 78 next door. The building retains many of its original features. The Guild Street entrance to the Trinity Centre now runs along the western side of this building. The image also shows features that are no longer present. The covered walkway that can be seen on the near right of the image enabled direct access from the station's central platform to the Palace Hotel on Union Street. The hotel was owned by the Great North of Scotland Railway Co. (GNSR). The walkway was vaulted to pass over the tracks at sufficient height. Consulting The Joint Station: Aberdeen Station, 1867-1992 (c1992), this image probably dates from 1912 when, in additional to commencing the reconstruction of the Joint Station, the GNSR also laid new loading docks and carriage storage siding in the Hadden Mills site (left of image). This was to ensure that the main station buildings were used purely for passenger traffic. The walkway that linked Windmill Brae and the Green, known affectionately as the Puffing Briggie, can be seen in the centre of the image. It looks like a section on the left has been temporarily demolished as part of the ongoing work. The sidings on the extreme left were used for cleaning carriages in the later 20th century. One of our correspondents recounts using the often-unattended carriages, accessible when entering the station from the Green, as an unusually exciting and plush playground during their youth in the late-1940s.

533

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction.The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

534

Aberdeen Joint Station Concourse. Note the train arrival and departure boards and the newspaper kiosk at the left of the photograph. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

535

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

536

This image shows the exterior of the old Aberdeen Joint Station built in 1867. The station was significantly reconstructed and modernised in 1912-16. This work saw a new glazed roof constructed over the railway buildings visible in this image so that station operations could continue largely uninterrupted.

537

This photograph shows the eastern side of the original 1867 Aberdeen Joint Station. The railway buildings can be seen at the front with the roof rising behind. The history of the station can be discovered in the Great North of Scotland Railway Association's publication The Joint Station: Aberdeen Station, 1867-1992 (c1992). In reference to the 1867 station, on page 18 it states: "Designed by the City Architect, Mr Smith, various offices and rooms occupied the east side of the station, extending in a symmetrical manner along the entire frontage, in front of which ran a macadamised roadway eighty feet broad. The building's facade was of dressed ashlar granite quarried from Kenmay, surrounded by a balustrade of dressed freestone. The arched doors were also faced with finely dressed ashlar granite, again surrounded by freestone. The remainder of the buildings was of rustic granite interlined with courses and belts of ashlar freestone from Bannockburn. The main walls, which were thirty feet high, were finished off at the ends by square turrets about twenty feet high 'built of granite rustic work which gave the whole structure a most imposing appearance'. At its highest point the roof, designed by Mr Willet the Civil Engineer for the project, was about seventy feet above ground level and was stated as being modelled on Victoria Station, London." The cranes and construction work that can be seen on the left side of this image suggest that it might date from the beginning of the 1913-1916 construction of the new Joint Station, overseen by GNSR Chief Engineer J. A. Parker. Foundations for the new station were laid in the cab yard to the east of the old structure on 28th May, 1913.

538

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. Note the pre-fabricated sections of the structure waiting to be raised into position. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

539

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

540

This image most likely shows the demolition of the original roof of the 1867 Joint Station. This work was begun in August 1913. The Joint Station was significantly reconstructed from 1912-16 to meet increasing traffic demands adn to improve facilities. The project was overseen by GNSR Chief Engineer, J. A. Parker. Remarkably, the reconstruction was completed with very little disturbance to the station's operation. See the Great North of Scotland Railway Association's publication The Joint Station: Aberdeen Station, 1867-1992 (c1992) for the full story.

541

Aberdeen Joint Station exterior view of the main entrance. The Station Hotel (1897 by Ellis and Wilson) is in the background .The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

542

Aberdeen Joint Station concourse showing the Newspaper Kiosk and train arrival and departure indicator boards. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

543

View along the railway tracks looking towards the Puffin' Briggie and Union Bridge. The Trinity Hall is on the right of the photograph.

544

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction.The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

545

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. The station was built between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.

546

Strathspey excursion at Aberdeen Joint Station

547

Aberdeen Joint Station under construction. This photograph shows the girders of the roof being erected early in 1866. This building was replaced by the present Joint Station erected between 1913-1916. The engineer in charge was a Mr J. A. Parker.