This geocache belongs to the SideTracked series that is popular in the UK and is now spreading around the world. SideTracked caches are designed to provide you with a relatively quick cache find around railway stations. More information about the series can be found at the SideTracked website.
Berowra
Berowra (named after the Darug word for "place of many shells") is a largely residential suburb with about 4,700 residents (2023) on the northern outskirts of Sydney.
The first land owner was Mary Wall, whose land was gazetted in 1879. Once a week she walked through the night from Sydney to Berowra, worked the next day on her land, and then walked back to Sydney, so that she fulfilled the conditions of purchase.
The opening of the railway in 1887 led to the growth of the settlement but development of the area was slow because of poor roads over difficult terrain. It was not until October 1890 that Berowra was proclaimed a village, with the first auction of land taking place the following year. In 1900, there were only about 35 families in the area.
Berowra Station
Berowra was the first station to open when the new Northern rail line was extended beyond Hornsby in 1887. The station was located where Platform 3 is now sitting. It was then demolished and replaced by a new island platform in 1909 when the train line was duplicated. Access to the station was provided via a set of steps down from a new brick overbridge built at the northern end of the island platform at the same time.
The suburban electrification network was extended from Hornsby to Cowan (including Berowra) in 1958, and in 1983, a passing loop was opened opposite the island platform. This allowed suburban services to terminate at the station, and by 1992, Berowra had became the northern boundary of the Sydney suburban network, instead of Cowan.
This led to an additional platform (Platform 3) being built where the original station had been located, as well as a new pedestrian overbridge, including lifts, to provide easy access for commuters to all 3 platforms. The stairs from the vehicle overbridge to the north of the station to Platforms 1 and 2 were removed at the same time, but the bridge itself is still essentially intact.
Abesty, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
To cope with increased patronage, a new/additional commuter carpark was added in 2010 ... apparently, it is often referred to by locals as the “Coastie’s Car Park” as early rising Central Coast commuters generally get in there before the locals. The station averages over 2,000 tap on/offs per day.
The Cache
The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates, but you have to go there and look around the station entrance and on Platforms 1/2 in order to work out where the cache is hidden.
| A |
In what month of 1887 was Berowra Railway Station opened? |
| B |
How many public phones are located on the platforms? |
| C |
How many things are you reminded are prohibited on the platforms? |
| DE |
In what year did Jack Foster arrive in Berowra - 19DE? |
| F |
What is the serial number of the Opal Card top up machine - final digit? |
The cache is located at
S 33° 37.ABC′ E 151° 09.DEF′
PLEASE NOTE
According to the Regulations, anyone entering a railway platform must TAP ON with their Opal Card
(or a valid contactless debit/credit card) even if they don't intend to board a train.
To reverse the transaction, you have 30 minutes to gather the information for this cache and TAP OFF.
Apparently, inspectors can and occasionally do check the Opal Cards of people on railway platforms.
For your safety, you must remain behind the YELLOW LINE on the platform
while searching for the information you need.
|
Remember, you MUST sign the log to be able to claim the find. Please bring your own writing tool.
Enjoy!!