On 27 February 1986, the Webb Dock railway line was opened by Minister for Transport. It was built as a freight line to service the Webb Dock container port in Melbourne.
The line commenced near Spencer Street station, passing through what is now Docklands Stadium, before crossing the Yarra River via a bridge and then running west, parallel to Lorimer Street. It turned south at Todd Road, before turning west, parallel to Wharf Road, and beneath the West Gate Bridge, to Webb Dock.
After being opened the line spent months with few if any trains using it, reportedly due to a clerk's dispute and shunters strike. By July 1986 trains were running on a regular schedule most nights.
It was last used in 1992, and formally closed on 14 June 1996, as part of the construction of the Docklands Stadium. The bridge over the Yarra River was converted to a footbridge. Much of the line west of the Bolte Bridge remains in situ, with suggestions it may be reactivated for passenger use, as the Fishermans Bend area is redeveloped for residential use.
The cache is a camouflaged bison tube and is located along the section just off Todd Rd at a location I often pass on a lunchtime walk. BYO pen and no room for swaps.
There's no parking on Wharf Road. The closest parking is around the corner on Wirraway Drive but often fills up during the day. More parking available at Westgate Park.
Please replace the container as you found it so it matches the hint and to make the experience the same for future finders. The location was chosen to not be too hard.
Congratulations to go AlphaDeltaIndigo for FTF.