Ghost Railway- Walton Park (Otago) Multi-Cache
U.N.C.L.E.: Passing Waypoint 1 I noticed that the Council had cleaned out the area using what can best be described as a scorched earth approach! Waypoint container was gone. So archiving the cache. It hasn't been found for nine months so don't feel inclined to replace the waypoint.
Ghost Railway- Walton Park (Otago)
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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A ghost railway is one where the line has been closed and the tracks taken up but physical evidence of the railway still exists- cuttings, bridges, tunnels, embankments, buildings etc.
This ghost railway is on the outskirts of Dunedin- the Walton Park Branch Line.
This line was only 4.21km in length and existed almost solely to service the coal mine at Saddle Hill, south of Dunedin. Construction of the line ran from 1873 to 1879. Closure of the line began in 1944 with the Walton Park to Saddle Hill section (only some 770 metres). In 1950 the line disappeared from the NZR timetable and services ran only on “as requested” basis. In May 1957 the branch officially closed as coal was no longer being moved. However, a short 580 metre “spur” line from the South Island Main Trunk line to Green Island was retained until 1980.
I have provided details below for Observation Points (nothing hidden at these, you merely go there to observe) and Waypoints (a container is hidden at these giving co-ords for the next waypoint or the final).
Not much can be seen of the line beyond Green Island now as housing and motorway developments have obliterated much of the remaining evidence. However, go to the first Observation Point at S45 53.984 E170 26.237. Looking to the south you can see a concrete tunnel portal. The Walton Park Line left the Main Trunk Line here. When the line was originally laid down, there was no motorway. The tunnel was a later construction to allow the motorway to be built across the line. A better view can be obtained by entering the pedestrian underpass (also visible from the observation point) and then going up the ramp to your right, shortly after entering the underpass. At the top of the ramp look south towards the motorway and you will see the tunnel entrance. The tunnel is well blocked off and cannot be entered. (SAFETY NOTE: Do not go further than the end of the ramp as this would take you onto existing railway property).
Now travel to Observation Point 2 at S45 54.123 E170 26.036 on Main South Road. By looking north, towards the motorway, you will see the opposite portal of the tunnel. Travel on to WP1 (co-ords published above). There is a noticeable hump in the road here. This was a level crossing. Look north, beyond the white wooden railing, and you can clearly see the line of the railway embankment, now grassed over and with trees planted all around. From WP1 the line ran behind the shops. If you travel along Shand Street (sign visible from the waypoint) you can clearly see where it ran, now grassed over. However, all sign of the line is then lost as buildings have been constructed over it. At Waypoint 1 you are looking for a small black-painted micro container.
Observation Point 3 is at S45 54.235 E170 25.361. Here, another level crossing took the line across the road just before the road bridge across the Kaikorai Stream. Unfortunately there is nothing to be seen of the line now. Redevelopments of the area since 1957 have obliterated all evidence. However, it is relatively easy to work out the approximate route of the line from the back of the shops at Green Island to the level crossing at Observation Point 3. On the west side of the level crossing, the line ran roughly through what is now the premises of Timber Direct. From there it passed across the area that now has the SH 1 motorway built on it and through what is now the Sunnyvale sportsground, which you will pass on Main Road as you head to Observation Point 4 at S45 53.908 E170 24.192. Heading towards Fairfield on Main Road, just past the sports ground entrance, you pass a spot where a distinctive white gate in the traditional NZR pattern stood near the road until fairly recently, a reminder that a railway once ran quite close to the road here. You will also pass an area of new housing on your left. The line ran through here. I wonder how many of the new householders know that they are living on top of an old railway?
Observation Point 4 is in Haworth Road. Here, the line once again crossed the road before carrying on into a sand quarry (now on land owned by Fulton Hogan and not open to the public.) The lower of the two roads that run to the south-west off of Haworth Road (i.e. NOT Bremner Street) takes you into the quarry and indicates, roughly, the direction the railway line took.
From Observation Point 4 you travel to Waypoint 2 (the co-ords you found at Waypoint 1). The waypoint container is the same as the container at Waypoint 1. At the waypoint, look north to where the line emerged from the quarry. Unfortunately no evidence can now be seen. It carried on to cross what is now the SH1 motorway more or less where the current road bridge now crosses it. However, be aware that earthworks for the motorway have changed the landscape significantly here so it is difficult to judge the exact route and elevation of the rail line.
From this point I have been unable to establish the exact line of the railway (any information would be gratefully received.) However, I assume it skirted around the Fulton Hogan Engineering premises (visible to the south from Waypoint 2) or possibly through the Fulton Hogan property.
From Waypoint 2 you travel to the final cache at the co-ords given at Waypoint 2. The significance of the location of the final is explained on an information card glued to the inside of the lid of the cache. The final is a black-painted one litre snaplock.
PLEASE NOTE: You cannot drive to Waypoint 2. Best advice is to park on Old Brighton Road and walk.
Lastly, you may be forgiven for thinking that this line took an unusual route. However, the "straight line" route from Green Island to the coal mine would have taken it right through the swampy wetlands where the current landfill sits and would have been an engineering nightmare.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Waypoint 1] Oruvaq ebpx