Passenger services were withdrawn on 28 February 1966 and the line was closed completely to Ballater on 18 July 1966 and to Culter on 2 January 1967.

[2] Interest was restored after Prince Albert purchased Balmoral Castle, to which the Royal Family made their first visit in 1848, and the Aberdeen Railway was able to sell their shares.

However, this was modified during the parliamentary proceedings to terminate at Bridge of Gairn with the passenger terminus 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) short at Ballater.

[7] On 10 October 1853, the Duchess of Kent, Queen Victoria's mother, caught a special train from Banchory to Ferryhill.

[8] The royal trains, which did not enter Aberdeen station but reversed at Ferryhill, took about 75 minutes to travel the 42+1⁄2 miles (68.4 km) to Ballater; the Queen disliked high speed.

The line was cleared fifteen minutes before the train was due, the facing points and level crossing gates were locked and stations closed.

Frustrated with lack of progress, the Scottish North Eastern proposed a new line from the Deeside Railway to join the GNSR at Kintore.

Whilst in discussions with the SNER, a lease on the Deeside Railway was offered to the GNSR, who rapidly accepted.

[14] The line was chosen for testing the unit because the stations were well spaced and the 1 in 70 ruling gradients would require substantial discharge rates.

[15] Passenger services were withdrawn on 28 February 1966 and the line was closed completely to Ballater on 18 July 1966 and to Culter on 2 January 1967.

Balnacraig viaduct, a five-arch structure between Torphins and Lumphanan which carried the railway, was demolished in June 1989.