The Devizes Branch Line was a railway line from Holt Junction to Patney in Wiltshire, and named after Devizes, the largest town on the line. It was built by the Wiltshire, Somerset and Weymouth Railway, and was later bought up by the Great Western Railway. At one point the Devizes line provided a direct link from London to the West Country.
The Devizes Branch line and all of its stations closed in 1966 under British Rail's modernisation plans. The closure of the line can be accounted for by the awkward geography of the Devizes line and the falling amount of traffic since the building of a rival railway line from Chirton to Westbury which by-passed the steep gradients of the Devizes branch line.
Apart from a few remaining bridges and tunnels there is little evidence of the railway on the landscape today and after the closure of the line, all stations and halts were dismantled.
More information on the Devizes branch line can be found here.
This is Hillworth Road bridge that passes over the old cutting that once contained the Devizes Branch Railway line. As you will see this bridge is 85 miles and 38 chains from the old GWR headquarters at Paddington in London which is about 85.07 miles or 137 kilometres. This bridge is not immediately obvious as you approach it along Hillworth Road but you will notice the many trees that still line the sides of the old cutting.
You are looking for a magnetic aluminium container with log-roll & pencil.
*** STEALTH WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS CACHE ***
Gloves may be needed as surrounding hedge grows
Hillworth Road is quite a busy road so do please keep an eye on any children and doggy geocashers that you have with you.
Some limited roadside parking is available in Hillworth Road at N 51° 20.908 W 001° 59.637 or N 51° 20.894 W 001° 59.704 and at various other positions along Hillworth Road.
Wheelchairs can reach the GZ ok but help may be needed to reach this cache.
For more ‘Devizes Branch Railway’ caches please look here.
Good luck to you all.
*** FTF - Blocdsock ***
