GC20VQH Brill Tramway - Wood Siding (Traditional Cache) in Southern England, United Kingdom created by Alibags

This cache has been archived.

Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it will NOT be unarchived.

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

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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GC20VQH ▼

A cache by Alibags Message this owner

Hidden : 11/9/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The Brill Tramway is probably the most unlikely outpost of the London Underground network. It was started as a horse drawn Tramway in 1870, running from Quainton to just outside of Brill. The line was at first upgraded to use steam engines and then was taken under the wing of the Metropolitan Railway Company (later to become the Metropolitan Line). The following map of the line shows how this end of the tube map would have looked.

There were originally plans to extend the railway as far as Oxford, but these were abandoned due to the expense of tunnelling under Muswell Hill, which lies on the route, and also due to competition from many other railways

The railway came under the control of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, who had little interest in maintaining rural services and it was ultimately closed down in 1935, at which time the land and station buildings were sold and the tracks lifted. Today it is tricky to find evidence of the Brill Tramway, but clues are still there to be found by the dedicated explorer.

Wood Siding, the final stop before the Brill end of the tramway, was an exceptionally remote and improbable station which was built mostly on a bridge straddling the Chiltern Main Line in the cutting below. If you peer over the bridge parapet you can see the remains of the bridge abutments, the bridge itself has gone. There was a level crossing, as the line crossed the side road. The wide layby here is the actual site of the station building (a small tin hut) and the train lines. The large oak tree which still stands here can be seen clearly in old photos of the station.

When setting the cache, I discovered more evidence, including one of the old level crossing gates which has been discarded and dumped in the bushes. You are looking for a large round tub hidden in a signature Alibags manner. Please leave the cache in good order.

For much more information on the Brill Tramway, check out the following links:
QUAINTON ROAD TO BRILL (Wotton Tramway)
Underground History

Note: The Railway cutting, the land to the West of the parking and nearby Rushbed Woods are a nature reserve and an SSSI, so please don't be tempted to do any hedge hopping on this side. Rushbed Woods themselves have public trails throughout, if you wish to take a walk and enjoy the area.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

vf gung n qerl?

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)

This cache has been archived.

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Brill Tramway - Wood Siding Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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