Strathclyder
Established Member
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-32700968Fire destroys historic Old Royal Station in Ballater
A historic building on Royal Deeside has been destroyed by fire.
About 50 firefighters were called to the Old Royal Station in Ballater just before 02:00.
The fire is now under control, but the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said 90% of the building, which includes a shop, restaurant and a museum has been destroyed. No-one was injured.
The A93 between Ballater and Braemar has been closed and drivers are being asked to use the Pass of Ballater.
The station was opened in October 1866 by the Great North of Scotland Railway and was the nearest station to Balmoral Castle so contained Queen Victoria's waiting room. It closed in February 1966.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group manager John Morgan said: "On arrival crews were faced with a well-developed fire which had already broken through the roof - and the old structure of the building assisted the fire to spread through the property."
"The crews fought hard to save parts of the museum area."
It is not yet known how many Royal artefacts in the museum have been destroyed.
Among them was a replica of the Royal carriage which took Queen Victoria to Scotland in 1869. It had been painstakingly hand-crafted to match the original design after being commissioned by VisitScotland at the suggestion of Prince Charles.
The original is kept in the National Railway Museum in York.
Mr Morgan said: "It's been very difficult for us to enter the property because of safety reasons so it's difficult to make any judgement as to what has been damaged and what hasn't."
Local councillor Geva Blackett said: "This is shocking news and my heart goes out to the businesses destroyed. Thank goodness no-one has been hurt.
"I am meeting with Aberdeenshire Council's chief executive Jim Savege on Friday and this will be high on the agenda as this council-owned building is at the heart of Ballater's economic and tourism activity and the repercussions will be felt throughout the area."
