Iron stone, steel rails. Traditional Cache
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This cache is on the site of the Midland Railway mineral branch line. This railway track lead from the mainline at Ashwell to the exchange sidings that were once located close to the cache site. These served three separate private quarry railway systems associated with the past extraction of iron ore. The number of old railway track beds in this area is surprising, even the old ironstone quarries themselves have disappeared under agriculture and time. I have traced these old quarry railway routes onto an OS map and stuck it onto the inside lid of the cache box, just for interests sake. This branch line track bed is however very distinct, with the ballast stones still visible in the dirt and the foliage is kept back by its use as a road for the farm vehicles.
The Rutland Railway Museum is located only a mile away to the South East, on the exchange sidings site, that was known as the Cottesmore Iron Ore Mines Sidings. There is a unique collection of both steam and diesel locomotives and rolling stock reflecting the important part played by private railways in industry with particular emphasis on the local ironstone quarry railways. The museum entrance is on the road from Ashwell to Cottesmore.
The cache is close to the public footpath that goes from Ashwell to Market Overton. This route is a gentle walk across the fields and styles over mostly flat ground.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Arkg gb na byq srapr cbfg
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