Dublin's Railway Termini: Broadstone Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Inishanier: Hi,

There has been no response from the cache owner so I'm Archiving this cache.

It may be possible to reactivate this cache. If you wish to do so please contact me via my profile and quote the Geocaching.com ID for the cache so I know which one you are referring to.

Please be aware that reactivation is not guaranteed and will depend on individual circumstances.

Many thanks,

Graham

Inishanier - Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching.com (Ireland)

More
Hidden : 10/14/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:



This cache is one of six in the "Dublin's Railway Termini" series. The full series, consisting of Westland Row, Amiens Street, Kingsbridge, North Wall, Broadstone and Harcourt Street will bring you to the railway termini, both past and present, of Dublin city and will hopefully give you an appreciation for the vast railway network that once served the city. Today the railway buildings remain as impressive and imposing structures within their surrounding localities. While some of the buildings remain in use as railway stations, others are sadly neglected relics of Dublin's railway past.

Inside the lid of each cache you will find 2 numbers printed in red and white lettering. Gather all 12 numbers and you will be able to ascertain the coordinates for an exclusive 7th cache relating to Dublin's railway history.

The main railway terminus for the Midlands Great Western Railways was located at Broadstone on the north side of the city. It was designed by J. Mulvany and is of a neo-Egyptian style and constructed of granite. Completed in 1850, train services from Broadstone remained until the late 1950's when it was closed to make way for a bus depot. The main building is intact today, though in a derelict condition. In fact it is not even connected to the rail network and its forecourt is a surface carpark. Sited on a hill, its most dramatic feature is its railway shed with its huge colonnade of columns.

The original railway shed roof designed by Richard Turner proved to be too ambitious for the span and was replaced after it collapsed in the early 1850s. Originally there was a canal spur from the Royal Canal to a basin in front of the station.

Just eleven years after the station was built extensive alterations were made to the terminus, including the erection of the beautiful colonnade. As the "Freeman" newspaper stated: "Today or tomorrow the alterations which have been for some months in course of preparation, come into effect at Broadstone Terminus. To avoid the inconvenience and possible dangers of changing rails as hitherto in leaving or arriving the trains were compelled to do, the platforms have been altered from one side of the building to the other. The south-west will, in future, be the departure side, the north-east the arrival; the travellers leaving Dublin passing the front of the terminus and reaching this platform by a handsome collonade, supported with metal pillars, and through a spacious ticket office. On this the departure platform will now be found with waiting rooms and in an additional storey the offices of the traffic manager, engineer, the auditor, also spare rooms, suitable for branch company's uses, all to the number of nine, opening on a corridor 300 feet in length."

"On the opposite side the arrival platform has now been formed. It opens on a magnificent collonade, about fifty feet in width by 600 feet in length. This is appropriated to vehicles of every description, which can leave its inclosure with the utmost celerity. The alterations are decided improvements. They have, we understand, been carried out under the supervision of Mr C Wilkinson, of Westland-row. The interior of the station is being further beautified by the painting in bright colours of the roof, pillars and delicate iron work of the spacious and graceful shed - the building, altogether, presenting a railway terminus in every way worthy of a great and enterprising company".

In June 2007 Iarnrod Eireann announced plans to re-open Broadstone Station in 2010 to facilitate north inner city commuters. It's estimated the station will cater for over 5,000 commuters per hour.

The cache is a magnetic micro. Please replace it exactly as you found it, making sure it is not visible. Enjoy!

Source -

Irish-Architecture.com

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

tngrcbfg; yrsg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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