DUNSTABLE DASHER
The climb back to Dunstable (worse than it looks!!)
This cache makes for an easy walk or an excellent downhill run
by bike – either way it will take you into an area of
countryside easily accessible from either Dunstable or Stanbridge
and is named after the train which used to run on this line.
Please take extra care when visiting this cache
during the nesting season which lasts from 1st March through to
31st July.
From 1848 a branch railway line linked
Dunstable with Leighton Buzzard, the Sustrans cycle path route 6
from Dunstable now covers the same area starting at the top of
French’s Avenue.
Goods transported on the line included coal to
Dunstable gas works and chalk from Totternhoe lime
works.Strawberries and carnations from the nurseries at Eaton Bray
were delivered to London.
The embankment at Sewell Cutting was so steep
that heavy goods trains had to unhitch some of their carriages,
take some up then come back for the rest.
On heading towards Dunstable by bike be
prepared for the same slow climb, as long as you take it easy
though it's not too bad – even with young children.
The line upon which the “Dunstable
Dasher” ran was closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching
cuts. By a weird turn of fate back in 1962 Dr. Beeching & his team made the decision to
close this line based on a week’s survey of passenger
numbers. Unfortunately this week was during the summer whilst
school holidays were on, as a result the line didn’t show a
profit that week & was axed.
Had that decision not been made Dunstable
might be a very different place today with a direct train line into
London & lacking much of the congestion now seen in the town
centre….
The lime kilns are an important part of the
local industrial heritage. Lime workings at Totternhoe are
mentioned in the Domesday Book. There
used to be 28 pairs of kilns for chalk burning and making lime, now
only two remain.
See more information on the Dunstable line @
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunstable_Branch_Lines
The Dunstable Dasher climbing Sewell Cutting
Original contents
Corfe Castle badge
Painted stone
Scooby Doo pencil top
Rubber pencil top
Silver pocket watch
Congratulations FTF!!! The Nesty Crew
21-3-11