Please note this cache was foremerly known as
Alpha Quest-Y and was changed
to the above name on 21/09/06. For those wishing to complete The
Alpha Quest series caches there the now a new cache that can be
viewed by following this link
ALPHA QUEST-Y Bonus
Cache
You can enter the Tunnel through the unlocked rusty gate. This
gate can sometimes be locked, then the unofficial entrance is
through the hole in the fence. I suggest the number of cachers in a
group be strictly kept to the
minimum. This is to prevent undue attention being drawn to this
cache which would result in the gate being locked. You can walk on
an Official Public Footpath to the Tunnel Mouth. This path runs
parallel to the Disused line.At @50 metres before the next gate
there is a path that leads back on itself down to where your
Journey begins.I have found this way to be far less muddy. You can
walk in the dip of the Old Railway, but you are off the Path and
may come across serious boot sucking mud!. You will find that doing
it in pairs/quads you will experience the true atmosphere of this
cache.In a large group some of this is lost
The above Co-Ords are for the entrance to the above picture.
Parking can be found at N52 12.174 W001
13.152. The Bridleway needed to reach the cache location
is on the opposite side of the road at N52
12.172 W001 13.121
You will be standing outside the disused Catesby
Railway Tunnel
This was the route taken in 1942 by Winston Churchill's, in a
sleeper carriage, én route for Thurso and a secret crossing of the
Atlantic, to a meeting that, for better and for worse, brought
America into the war in Europe
3000 yards of soot darkened Tunnel!. It is drained by a
substantial underground channel in the middle of the invert, with
deep manholes every fifty yards or so. When removing the line the
demolition contractors have rather damaged many of the manhole
covers. The majority of the tunnel is in great condition beneath
its soot, except for a section where the drainage has been
sufficiently wrecked that the tunnel is filled to a depth of 6inchs
or so with cold clear spring waters. The Tunnel is well vented so
contains no build up of gases
This is where the fun
begins!
You will need to come prepared. You will need Wellies, Torch
(fully charged or with spare batteries), Hat, Gloves, Camera and
definitely not your Sunday Best Clothes!. This is not a cache for
the faint hearted. It is very dark and claustrophobic. Mobile
Phones and Trackers do not work down here
I
strongly recommend
you cache with a friend
This is for your safety. It is possible for somebody to follow
the footpath above and shout down the airshafts as you go by!. If
caching on your own, phone a friend before entering and tell them
you will call back with-in 2 Hours. If they have not heard from you
by then to send someone to investigate. This should give you enough
time to reach the cache, have a look around and return
Because of the missing manhole covers, caution is advised. If
caching with children, please be aware of this and keep them close
to hand. The fall down one of these is not far, @4ft and wet, but
could be very unnerving given the surroundings
Enter the tunnel and keep walking…and walking until your come to
a small staff room @half way along its length. The cache is here.
It’s as simple as that, or is it, you decide!
I hope you enjoy the showers of water running through the Air
Shafts, they sound like waterfalls in this enclosed space. When the
Sun is overhead, the waterfalls turn to Rainbows. You will also
notice that your breath will steam up in your torch
light...spooky!. After you have found the cache and are on
your way back you will feel a lovely refreshing breeze and notice
the temperature changes along the way
Some of you will not attempt this cache, and may well say,`No
way am I going in there`...`Your Havin’ a
laugh!`, hence the cache name
You are looking for a 3lt Clip Top Container.
Please take the time to hide it
Exactly as found if not
better
This will ensure that it is not found by accident and will offer
a challenge to many a cacher. I hope you get as much enjoyment in
finding this cache as I did in placing it
Please DO
NOT leave any Geocoins or Travel Bugs in this cache
due to the uncertainty of the entry remaining open
Have Fun!
The GeoCaching Association of Great Britain
offering support for UK GeoCachers. Just click on the `GAGB` logo
above
Joint FTF
Honours go to Just Roger and
Chapelman
I would like to thank
Bekandian for producing this
superb video into what it is like to do this cache before it was
re-named
Click here
Just a
few pictures from
Cachers who have visited. View Gallery for more great shots
For more infomation on locations of this type,
just click on the following link Urban
Bexs, The Child of Darkness