This railway station it was built on what was known as the Town Hill Deviation which was meant to make the tortuous route of the earlier railway line easier for the steam locomotives to climb up the 400m ascent from Pietermaritzburg to Cedara. It was still a very steep climb with gradients of 1:45 although at this point it is reasonably level.
It was completed in 1915, nearly 100 years before this cache was placed.
The line was electrified in the 1930s, one of the first of such in South Africa; evidence of the pylons can still be seen from the old concrete blocks alongside the servitude.
This route was abandoned in 1960 when the twin bore Cedara tunnels; the longest twin bore tunnels in the southern hemisphere, were completed and commissioned. See Cedara Tunnels South (GC2H96C) and Cedara Tunnels North (GC2H96P).
This station was one of the few along the “new” route from Pietermaritzburg to Cedara, including Teteluku Station (GC3Y283) and passing through a tunnel at Can You Hear It ? (GC5FYGZ).
The old railway line continues to pass Ketelfontein View (GC2EKXK) and then through the Hilton Tunnel (GC25DWM) and beyond to Cedara.
The old Station Master’s house can be seen below the cache site which is now used by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as lodging for their employees.
This cache is within the Worlds View Conservancy and the picking of indigenous flowers and plants or dropping of litter is prohibited.
The cache is accessible from Old Howick Road along the railway servitude which is now chained off so access now only by foot.
Of necessity this cache is a micro as there is quite a bit of muggle traffic but hopefully the hide will be sufficient. The container is a bit unique in that it used to house the CO’s spectacles.
Well done Westview4 on the FTF !!!!