The Royal Deeside Railway

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE ROYAL DEESIDE RAILWAY (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Arrowsmith RSCDS Bk 40

1- 8 1s cross down (no hands) below 3s, cast up 1 place opposite sides and dance in to face 2L, 1s+2L dance RH across
9-16 1s+2M dance LH across and end 1L (with partner behind her) in centre facing up, 1s dance up and cast 1 place on own sides and face 3M
17-24 1s+3M dance RH across, 1s+3L dance LH across and end 1L (with partner behind her) in centre facing down
25-32 1s dance down below 3s and cast up on own sides to 2nd place, 2s+1s+3s turn RH

(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)

The Royal Deeside Railway
Ron Arrowsmith   RSCDS Book 40
Reel   8 x 32 bars   3 Couple Repeat   4 Couple Set   Lengthwise Set

1-4      1s cross (no hands) down below 3s and cast up, finishing facing 2L with 1M slightly behind 1L;
5-8      2L1s right hands across;
9-12    2M1s left hands across, 1s finishing facing up in the centre of the set, 1M behind 1L;
13-16  1L, followed by 1M, dance up and cast on own sides, finishing facing 3M;
17-20  1s3M right hands across;
21-24  1s3L left hands across, 1s finishing facing down in the centre of the set, 1M behind 1L;
25-28  1L, followed by 1M, dance down and cast up on own sides, finishing in second place;
29-32  all turn by the right.

(MAXICRIB, Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle.)

Dance Notes

1-4      This is unachievable for all but the most agile, especially with the deviser's instruction "no hands"; cross down with right hands and note the comment on bars 25-28.
21-24  take this slowly.
25-28  take this slowly on the odd-numbered and 8th repeats; on the 2nd, 4th and 6th repeats, 1s finish by taking nearer hands and leading down to third place (3s stepping up) in order to make it less difficult for the new 1s on bars 1-4 of the next repeat.

Dance Instruction Videos

The Royal Deeside Railway - YouTube Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Performance of The Royal Deeside Railway by The Cincinnati Branch RSCDS 2009.

Dance Information

The Royal Deeside Railway was formed in 1996 with the intention of reclaiming part of the former branch line from Aberdeen to Ballater, constructed between 1853 and 1856 by the Deeside Railway company and closed by British Railways in 1966.

Work is underway to reinstate the railway between Banchory and Milton of Crathes, with a new station under construction at Milton of Crathes and one mile of track laid towards Banchory.

The Royal Deeside Railway is one of the members of the Ferryhill Railway Trust who are aiming to restore the former Caledonian Railway engine shed at Aberdeen Ferryhill, next to the Duthie Park in Aberdeen.

Caledonian locomotive CR 419

Dance Information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence.
Text from this original Royal Deeside Railway article on Wikipedia.
Image Copyright Dave Souza.

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