Tram Tunnel Traditional Cache
cachincallisters: I had a walk around the Great Flat Lode this morning, and although this cache was still there the container was full of water and seems to no longer be watertight. As im spending a lot of time away with work at the moment I have decided to archive it as I cant maintain it as often as it needs it.
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This cache is placed just outside of an interesting little tunnel we found when out walking the great flat lode.
If the Redruth & Chacewater railway was the umbilical cord of the mines around Carnkie the tramways were the arteries within the complex.
They were a narrow 1ft 8in gauge and were horse drawn except for one engine that was introduced in 1909. This was a 0-4-0 well tank built by Orenstein and Koppel. At this time the system was operated by Basset Mines Ltd but part of the operation had been introduced at an earlier date.
The engine was christened “Kimberly” after Captain William “Kimberly” James and driven by a Mr. Nicholas.
When West Basset opened their new stamps in the early 1870s they also built a tramway to connect them with the main shafts. This tramway travelled south crossing under the Piece-Four Lanes road just east of Piece where it eventually split with one extension going to Grenville’s shaft and the other to Marriot’s.
In Higher Carnkie the tramway started at the Basset stamps and called at Theager’s, Robert’s, Richard’s and Steven’s shafts before terminating at Samson’s. At some time around 1908 it was further extended to Marriot’s shaft making it about 1200m in length. A third line was added connecting the West Basset and the Basset stamps. This entailed tunnelling under the road in Carnkie. This tunnel has been buried under mine dumps.
We hope you enjoy looking around the area, and hope you take the time to explore some of the other great mine ruins in the area.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Tbefr, n srj cnprf rvgure orsber be nsgre gur ghaary!