This was originally part of the Scottish Midland
Junction Railway, built to link the Scottish Central
Railway at Perth to the Aberdeen Railway at Forfar. It opened on 4
August 1848 and ran under varying guises until this section, north
east of Stanley Junction, was closed to passengers on 4 September
1967. A limited goods service continued between Perth and Forfar
until 5 June 1982, after which the line was closed completely. I
have tried, where possible, to place these caches at or near many
of the line's original features.
To combat what is known as 'Slippery Rail' or what is
now condiscendingly referred to as 'leaves on the line', sand would
be deposited on the rails to assist with traction. Locomotives had
sand dispensing devices fitted to them, but if extra was required,
bunkers containing sand like this one were placed at intervals
along the trackside.