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Old Railway Bridge - Balerno Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Lorgadh: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

If you wish to email me please send your email via my profile (click on my name) and quote the cache name and number.

Regards

Karen
Lorgadh - Volunteer UK Reviewer www.geocaching.com
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Hidden : 7/6/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This bridge that you stand on was the tunnel that lead through to the goods yard of the old Caledonian Railway line and was sealed off when the railway line was abandoned. The site is a busy main road so super stealth mode will be required. Parking is available at the listed coordinates.

The earliest records of Balerno were written in the late 13th century and refer to Balhernoch and Balernach. Up to the 18th century, the land encompassing Balerno was typically Scottish farming land variegated with large houses and primitive cottages and common land for grazing and cultivation.

The arrival of the turnpike road in the 18th century brought an explosion of development to the area and the beginning of the mills that were to become a prominent feature of village life. An abundant water supply from the nearby Pentland Hills powered barley, flax, snuff, and particularly paper mills.

The development of Balerno continued with the establishment of the railway line in 1878. The Caledonian Railway Company ran almost 20 trains per day with stations at Colinton and Juniper Green. In addition, there was a large goods yard close to the railway line and this played a central role in the freighting of the locally produced goods.

After the First World War house development began seriously in the area. Since then, residential strains have almost besieged commercial and industrial demands. The last passenger train to run on the line was in 1943 and the High School was built on the site of the former goods yard in the early 1980’s.

The paper mill was closed in 1989 and Balerno became primarily residential. The village still remains under strain from housing developers with new projects in, and surrounding, the historic village centre, including the site of this cache. This bridge that you stand on was the tunnel that lead through to the goods yard and was sealed off when the railway line was abandoned. The land was then used as a refuse tip before the current dwellinghouses were built on the site.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

ubyr va gur jnyy

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)