FERRYHILL RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST
(Incorporating Ferryhill Men’s Shed)
ABOUT US
The Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust was established in 2007 to take over the remaining buildings and turntable of the former Ferryhill locomotive depot and to restore and transform the site into a working heritage railway site, and Museum for the north-east of Scotland.
Brief History of Ferryhill Engine Shed-BR Code 61B
The Aberdeen Railway Company built the first part of the shed before the opening of their railway from the south in April 1850. The shed continued through ownership by the Scottish North Eastern, Caledonian and LMS railways before final closure by BR in 1987. Although owned by the Caledonian Railway, the North British Railway used the shed’s facilities, a practice continued by the LNER.
The shed had an extension built in the 1860s and a further one in the 1880s to bring it to its present size. The Caledonian Railway expanded the site in the early twentieth century into adjacent fields, built a large additional shed and installed the 70ft turntable. They converted the original shed for wagon maintenance. The area of the additional new shed is now a housing development leaving the original shed, sidings and turntable.
Network Rail (NR) now owns the site that contains the sidings and turntable. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) took over the shed and area to provide storage for their equipment. They no longer have a use for the building but retain the use of part of the site. We are currently in discussion on obtaining a lease for the rest of the site, currently network rail owned.
The turntable is now a Grade ‘A’ listed structure and the shed Grade ‘B’. The turntable is on “The Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland” (www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk). The shed is brick-built, unusual for Aberdeen, and is one of the few remaining railway structures in the area. Built before 1850, it is a building from the dawn of the railways and its Grade ‘B’ reflects this importance.
VISIT FRHT
Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust
Polmuir Avenue, Aberdeen, AB11 7WH
We are open during our Turntable turn days, these are listed below, keep an eye out on our social media for more updates to this!
Currently no Turntable Turn Days scheduled as of 03/2026 – please visit later for further updates
We have our easter opening day on Sunday 5th April 2026, we will be open from 11am to 4pm. We will be providing easter egg hunt, turntable demonstrations, site tours and our museum will be open too!
Our Volunteers are on site. Opening Times
Tuesday 10am – 4pm
Wednesday 6pm – 10pm
Thursday 10am – 4pm
Sunday 10am – 4pm
Fathers Open Day
Join us at the Ferryhill Railway Heritage Centre for a special Father’s Day celebration! Treat Dad to our Special Father’s Day Ticket that includes a fun Wickham Trolley Ride*, an exciting Diesel Locomotive Cab Ride*, Museum Entry, and a Special Edition Mug to take home.
We’ll also have guided tours, turntable demonstrations, and plenty of kids’ activities to keep the whole family entertained. Plus, refreshments and Ice Creams will be available for sale throughout the day to keep you fuelled!
Come along and make it a day to remember! Our volunteers will be offering a variety of activities and will guide you round the site. Our colleagues at the Aberdeen Model Railway Club will be open to visitors with at least one layout operating as well.
All visitors welcome on the day.
We appreciate that not all visitors coming along will have a father as part of their group. Family tickets priced at £10 & Adult tickets priced at £5 will be available on the day. This price will include museum entry, guided tours & turntable demonstrations. Tickets for rides on the Wickham Trolley*, and the Diesel Locomotive Cab Ride* cab be purchased in the Museum
Important Information
Please be aware that we will be operating moving railway vehicles and it is therefore important to keep clear of the railway tracks at all times. Please wear suitable footwear – no sandals or high heeled shoes please. The site is still under development and therefore the ground is uneven and there are some pieces of railway equipment on the site which may have sharp edges. Please keep children closely supervised at all times.
*subject to availability. Due to events outside our control we may have to limit or cancel these activities at short notice.
