Edinburgh has witnessed many stations come and go since the advent of the railways, but few if any of these lost terminals were as exclusive as the one built for one of the most influential rulers in world history.
For more than 30 years, Queen Victoria had her very own private railway station at Meadowbank.
Known as the Queen's Station, the forgotten railway hub was created in 1850 and situated near the old St Margaret's Railway Depot at what is now Meadowbank Terrace - a conveniently short royal carriage drive from the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
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It is thought the station was built so that the queen could bypass the slums of Canongate and Holyrood that she would normally have ventured through if arriving at the former North British Railway Station in the city centre - now Edinburgh Waverley.
As Her Majesty's very own private station, the platform and entrance were elaborately decorated when Queen Victoria was in residence. Despite only being a temporary terminal and rarely used, no expense was spared for the appearance of the structure.
A newspaper report of Her Majesty and Prince Albert's visit to Edinburgh in September 1850, gives us an idea of the opulence that greeted her upon arrival at the newly-built royal terminal.
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The Brechin Advertiser reported: "The preparations for the reception of Her Majesty were of a tasteful description. The landing platform is about ninety-seven feet in length and ten feet broad and was covered with crimson cloth.
"Immediately in the centre is the vestibule leading to the spacious flight of steps by which Her Majesty was conducted to the royal carriage in waiting on the Abbeyhill Road, close by Parsonsgreen.
"The vestibule was roofed by an elegant wooden canopy, finished in front to resemble festoons of drapery. The royal crown surmounted the centre, with the letters V.A. on each side. The roof was finished in the style of an Arabian tent, by graceful festoons of white and pink drapery.
"The steps were laid with crimson cloth from end to end, but the carpet placed for Her Majesty to walk from the railway train to the royal carriage was formed of the 'Stuart hunting tartan'."
Writing of the Meadowbank station's appearance for a subsequent royal visit in 1860, the Elgin Courier reported: "The station at Meadowbank was tastefully decorated for the reception of Her Majesty. The sides were hung with coloured cloths and tartans, and the stairs leading down to the platform were covered with red cloth and green tartan.
"When the royal train rolled into the platform, Her Majesty stepped from the carriage on to a heather mat, placed at the foot of the flight of stairs.
"The road from the Meadowbank Station to Holyrood was lined with the 13th Light Dragoons, the 78th Highlanders and a detachment of the Royal Artillery from Leith Fort. In consequence of the large number of strangers in town, there was a good turn out in the park, both of strangers and citizens, who cheered the cortege as it swept along."
Going by newspaper reports, it appears Queen Victoria ceased using the private terminal at Meadowbank in September 1881 during her visit to Edinburgh for the Royal Review. Future royal visits from then on would alight at either Waverley Station or Princes Street Station in the city centre.
Very little remains of the Queen's Station at Meadowbank, save for a pair of stone gate piers that have definitely seen better days.
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