About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Series website at www.sidetrackedseries.info https://www.sidetrackedseries.info
This Really SideTracked cache is to commemorate a once important location in the history of train travel.
On the 27th September 1825, George Stephenson drove his train, Locomotion no.1 passed this very spot, on its way from Darlington to Stockton, with somewhere around 600 passengers, as well as coal and flour. After leaving Darlingon, the Locomotion No.1 stopped here at Fighting Cocks, at the crossroads with the Roman Road, Rykeneild St, before moving on, for water to be taken on at Goosepool.
By 1863 though, with the re-alignment of the main north-south route using the current Darlington Bank Top train station, the route towards Stockton and Middlesbrough was diverted, further to the south, and the Fighting Cocks no longer was a passenger stop, merely for goods, having been the destination for 30,000 persons over it's time as the station. Remnants can be seen in the area, the original inn is still there, though currently boarded up, in the process of being turned into a mini supermarket. Across the level crossing, can be seen the replacement to the Fighting Cocks, the first Dinsdale Station, now a house. There is also the remnants of a waiting room opposite the Dinsdale Station.
