Little North Western Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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The cache is located a short distance from Sedbergh by a pleasant level walk along the River Rothay.
The cache is located close to a beautiful skew railway bridge across the River Rothay. It was built around 1860 and formed part of the 'Little North Western' Railway, so called to avoid confusion with its larger neighbour the London & North Western.
The line was originally proposed in the 1840's by the Midland Railway under the leadership of George Hudson, the 'Railway King', to provide an alternative route from London to Scotland in competition with the alliance of companies which would eventually form the LNWR. It connected with the Midland at Settle and ran via Clapham, Ingleton, Kirby Lonsdale and Sedbergh to join the Lancaster & Carlisle at Low Gill from whence it would have running rights to Carlisle. There was also a branch from Clapham to Morecombe, via Lancaster to give access to Irish ferries.
Unfortunately, money ran out in the depression of the late 1840's and the main line only got as far as Ingleton. Completion of the line was then delayed by political manoevering between the big railway companies and by the time the government insisted on it being finished the Midland Railway had built the Settle and Carlisle route in order to reach Scotland.
The link from Low Gill to Ingleton was finally built by the Lancaster & Carlisle and operated by the LNWR. It opened in 1861 complete with the three impressive viaducts at Low Gill, Riverside and this one over the Rothay.
However, at first there was no link between the two halves of the line at Ingleton with the LNWR and Midland having seperate stations at either end of the incomplete viaduct over the River Greta.Through passengers had to disembark, and walk across the viaduct with their luggage to board the onward train. Eventually the viaduct link was completed and all trains ran into the same station but throughout the lines existence there were very few through trains and most services from both north and south terminated at Ingleton. In fact the maximum number of passenger services from Tebay to Ingleton only reached six! For most of its life the line was used as a freight relief route when the Settle and Carlisle was closed by maintenance work or bad weather.
The line was finally closed in 1966, as part of the Beeching cull, the track bed being lifted soon afterwards. Much of the route has now reverted to agricultural use but this fine bridge remains as a testimony to Victorian engineering and railway politics.
The cache is situated on one of our favourite walks around Sedbergh. It can be combined with Akay Folly (GCG5ZQ). Our first 'little un' (GC19FWM), Flax mill? (GC1KNBQ),
a visit to the Friends Meeting house at Brigflatts and The Secret Garden (GC1B42P) to make a delightful walk.
Note that the cache is not hidden in the nearby dry stone wall and no climbing on the bridge or embankment is needed.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Va oevqtr nohgzrag
Treasures
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