West Somerset Mineral Railway - Eastcott Traditional Cache
West Somerset Mineral Railway - Eastcott
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Cache and dash where the West Somerset Mineral Railway crosses a quiet lane
Inspired by other ‘Forgotten Railways’ series, I have decided to start one of my own in Somerset.
“The West Somerset Mineral Railway was constructed under an Act of 1855. The line was opened in stages from Watchet on the coast to Comberow, a hamlet some six miles to the south at the foot of the Brendon Hills. In order to reach the ironstone mines at the top of the hill, an incline was constructed. This was 1100 yards long on a gradient of 1 in 4, lifting the railway 800ft to the top of the hill. Although not completed until 1861, this was opened to traffic in May 1858. Ore was sent to the Ebbw Vale Ironworks in South Wales, the Ebbw Vale Company being closely associated with the railway.
From the top of the incline, the railway was extended westwards in 1864 to serve other ironstone mines. But recessions in the demand for ore, due to imports of cheaper foreign ore and a general fall in production of the industry, caused a reduction in the activity on the railway after 1883. In 1898 the railway was closed, most of the locomotives and rolling stock going to Ebbw Vale. There was a brief reopening of the mines by a syndicate between 1907 and 1910, using the lower section of the railway, the incline and a yard close to the head of the incline. The westward extension was remained derelict. The railway was last used between 1912 and 1914, when the Angus system of automatic train control was demonstrated on the line near Watchet. After this the railway was abandoned, being lifted in 1917-1918.” This information is taken from the West Somerset Mineral Railway by Sydney A Leleux – more details can be found at:
(visit link)
Update March 2009 - work is currently taking place to conserve the Langham Engine House and the Incline and these areas will be open to the public in Summer 2009. Further information can be found here: (visit link)
The cache is situated at a point where the line used to cross over the road, presumably on a bridge, as the tall embankments can clearly be seen on either side of the road. There is no need to enter any fields or to climb up any banks.
The cache is a long thin clip lock box. Parking is available on the verges at various points within 100 metres of the cache. The ground by the cache site may be a bit boggy but you should be able to reach the cache without getting wet feet.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq fgbar cvyyne