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The Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust has taken out a lease from Network Rail on part of the Aberdeen Ferryhill (61B) shed site, including the turntable once used by such illustrious names as Sir Nigel Gresley and Blue Peter. Last used in the 1980s, it has Grade I listed status and remains connected to the national network, but is classified as ‘disused’ by NR and is on the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register for Scotland. An estimated £100,000 is needed to send it away for a contract restoration - but the group, which has around 40 members and eight working volunteers, is starting with barely £1,000 in the bank after undertaking initial site clearance. Much like St Blazey at the opposite end of the country in Cornwall, Ferryhill turntable is essential for steam operation up the east coast of Scotland. This was the stumbling block for a 2006 proposal to mark the 40th anniversary of the ‘A4s’ demise - and the only recent appearance of a ‘Streak’ in the ‘Granite City’ was a oneway working by No. 60009 Union of South Africa on the ‘Great Britain VI’ of April 24 2013, brought in from Edinburgh by ‘Black Five’ No. 45407. The turntable’s reinstatement would be the first step in the restoration of the site as a working steam centre, utilising the original 1850-built, tworoad Aberdeen Railway Company locomotive shed, which became a wagon repair shop after the Caledonian Railway built a new ten-road shed. This later building is the only part of the site to have been lost, having been demolished to make way for new housing. Later seeing various industrial uses, the 1850 shed is now occupied by the trust, which is negotiating for a long-term lease to turn it into a steam repair and carriage restoration facility. The 250-foot long building also requires major repairs, including new roof trusses, estimated to cost £30,00040,000. Several Great North of Scotland Railway carriage bodies are on site, including the steam railmotor owned by the Royal Deeside Railway - which the trust assists in maintaining its steam fleet. The ultimate aim is to have a resident main line steam locomotive, confirms Treasurer Gordon Kirtley, while the “pipe dream” is to relay the missing five miles of the former Ballater branch and link Ferryhill with the RDR. Donations (made payable to FRHT) can be sent to Membership Secretary FRHT, 1 St Andrews, Monymusk AB51 7HE. Further details can be found at ferryhillrailwayht.org.uk
THE 1966 swansong of the Gresley ‘A4s’ on the famous ‘three-hour expresses’ can be recreated if an appeal to restore Scotland’s last 70-foot turntable is successful - opening up a fresh destination for main line steam, and getting a new preservation centre off the starting blocks.