Sidetracked Leicester Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A cache near Leicester's historic and beautiful railway station.
Leicester was one of the first cities to be served by a railway, the Leicester and Swannington railway in 1832.
The first station here was built in 1840. All that remains of it is a pair of Egyptian-style gate posts (see waypoint 3).
The present building dates from the 1890s. The design makes good use of red brick, as most of the Midland Railway stations do. The apotheosis of this approach is of course St Pancras in London. The much smaller Leicester Station is the next best example. It was designed by the architect Charles Trubshaw, who built several other stations and the magnificent Midland Hotel in Manchester.
The station has just (2012) been refurbished to good effect, with the original carriage hall now a pleasant and light place. The best view of the exterior is from the far side of London Road. (A very busy road, mind the traffic.)
Arguably, modern tourism started here. The first ever day trips left from this station, organised by the famous Thomas Cook, a statue of whom can be seen outside the station. (See waypoint 2.)
This is now a busy commuter station and a great many people walk past the cache. Stealth is required. Do not attempt this cache during the evening rush hours, when there will be people walking by, and muggles sitting in cars waiting for their loved ones with nothing better to do than watch you in their rear-view mirrors.
Sidetracked caches are a series placed near (but not at) stations.
Congratulations to sixxdog_uk and stickboys on their joint FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pbeare bs srapr, p25pz sebz gur tebhaq, zntargvp.