As the opening years of the
nineteenth century had witnessed, in the formation of new streets, the
greatest impetus which the growth of the city had ever received, so the
first year of the second half of the century saw the advent of the
locomotive, which, wherever it comes, has a wonderful influence in
promoting the wealth and prosperity both of town and county.
On 16th March, 1850, railway communication was established between
Aberdeen and the south. At first the station was at Ferryhill, and, as
few of the inhabitants had ever seen a locomotive and railway train
before the opening of the station, thousands of people, young and old,
went to Ferryhill to look at the phenomenon. They had heard wonderful
accounts of the speed at which trains moved along the rails, so much
faster than anything they had been acquainted with formerly, that it was
not without some trepidation that some of them ventured on a run to Cove
or Stonehaven to make trial of the new sensation of travelling at the
rate of thirty miles an hour. In 1854 the viaduct from Ferryhill was
completed, and the station was moved to Guild Street. About the same
time also, telegraphic communication was established between Aberdeen
and the south. The Deeside railway was opened as far as to Banchory on
7th September, 1853, extended to Aboyne in December, 1859, and to
Ballater in October 1866. The Great North of Scotland Railway was opened
between Aberdeen and Huntly on 19th September, 1854. For about eighteen
months the terminus was at Kittybrewster, but the line was completed to
the harbour, and the terminal station was brought to Waterloo Quay in
April, 1856. This was a more convenient arrangement, but still the
awkwardness of through passengers having to break the continuity of
their journey by the walk of about a quarter of a mile, from Guild
Street to Waterloo Station, or vice versa, was much felt, and
about 1867 the North Line was extended from Kittybrewster by the Denburn
Valley to Bridge Street, while the passenger station of the lines
entering Aberdeen from the south was at the same time moved from Guild
Street westward to the same point, thus making one joint passenger
station, as at present.
The locomotive wrought a complete revolution in all our travelling
arrangements. The speed at which the fast trains now travel is about 50
miles an hour, and one may traverse the 540 miles between Aberdeen and
London in 12 hours, including stoppages. It is needless to say that
after the railway system had been fairly inaugurated the old stage
coaches were driven from the field, just as the London smacks had to
give place to the steamboats. The railway lines are now the great
highways of the country, but good macadamised roads will always be of
immense advantage, and it was well that we had such roads before we had
railway lines, otherwise our admirable turnpikes might not have been so
well made as they are.
Aberdeen, Its Traditions and History
By William Robbie
1893
