About SideTracked Caches
This geocache belongs to the SideTracked series that is popular in the UK and throughout the world. The first cache was placed on the 10th August, 2007, and is now spreading around the world. It is designed to be a relatively quick cache find around train stations for travellers but, of course, anyone else can find it too! More Information about the series can be found at the SideTracked Series
For nearly 30 years we waited for a rail line to be built out to the Hills District, but there was one there, years ago and long forgotten.
Model Farms Road
The line called the Rogans Hill Line ran from Parramatta north to Castle Hill and on to Rogans Hill. It began as a steam tramway on the 18th August, 1902 basically following Church Street, Windsor Road and the Old Northern Road. The fare from Parramatta was tuppence and the journey took twenty minutes. In 1923 the tramway was converted to heavy rail. A 70 foot wooden platform and goods loop siding for the Woollen Mills at Castle Hill was built at the Model Farm station, hence the size and shape of the reserve here today.
Model Farms Road Station was here on the intersection of Windsor Road and Model Farms Road, 18 miles 58 chains from Sydney and opened on the 28th January, 1923. The name was changed 4 days later to Model Farm. With the increase in popularity of the car and the lack of residential development in the Hills District the line did not increase in usage and so was closed on the 1st February, 1932. As the line followed the road alignment, nearly all traces have been obliterated with subsequent road widening.
I remember when I first started working, in this area years ago, before this park was planted out with natives you could walk along Windsor Road and see the rail lines and framework of the platform below the road level on the western side. All that is left of the station and siding today is the level and elongated easement which is now a nice park but such a shame to hide the history of our railways under it!
There is no need to tread on any foliage to find the cache.