About SideTracked Caches
This geocache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breathtaking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More information can be found at the SideTracked Series website.
Glenbrook
The area has been occupied by the indigenous locals for centuries. The white explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson reached this area on their trek across the Blue Mountains on 12 May 1813 and described it as "a large lagoon of good water full of very coarse rushes". In 1815, soliders and convicts built the first road over the Blue Mountains, with Glenbrook became an important stopping point near the lagoon. A new road and stone bridge was built and opened to traffic in 1833. "The Western Road" at what is today Mitchell's Pass, planned and built by Thomas Livingstone Mitchell. Lennox Bridge is the oldest surviving stone bridge on the Australian mainland.
Glenbrook became a town in the 1870s as a result of the arrival of the railway. In 1867 a zigzag railway was built up the Lapstone Hill and on to Weatherboard "Wentworth Falls". Water from Glenbrook Lagoon was piped to supply the trains after traversing the Lapstone ZigZag. The Wascoe Siding became a passenger station in 1877. In 1878, this was renamed as Brookdale, thence Glenbrook in 1879. Named after the nearby creek and Gorge. A village sprung up near the station and was officially proclaimed Glenbrook, six years later.
Glenbrook lies between Lapstone and Blaxland at an elevation of 163 metres and is approximately a 50-minute drive from Sydney. It is home to many cafes and boutiques, while offering various tourist attractions, including weekend markets, recreational opportunities and native flora and fauna. Over 30 active geocaches can be explored within this locality, along with some Adventure Lab locations.
Glenbrook Station
In 1892 the first deviation of the railway up the Lapstone Hill, bypassed the Lapstone Zig Zag altogether. A tunnel was built through the hill to the Old Glenbrook station (subsequently dismantled). The old station site can be found on the north side of the highway, between the ovals and the garden nursery. The remains of the railway water towers (the brick foundations) are still on the left heading east opposite the visitors centre.
Old Glenbrook Station c. 1900
The 1892 Glenbrook Tunnel ran into trouble with water seeping from the nearby creek and the steep gradient (1:30) making the climb hard for most trains, often getting stuck in the tunnel. In 1913 the second deviation of the railway line\ was completed with a new double-tracked tunnel at the Bluff Point. Glenbrook station was relocated to its current location at the end of Ross Street, and was officially opened 11 May 1913. Until October 1990, there was a loop for westbound services opposite platform 2.
Glenbrook Station is also famous for their award-winning gardens, from 1950s. Which won six first prizes in the NSW Station Garden Championships. There is a panel near the lift structure on the platform island with more historical details. In 1999, the town was associated with the Glenbrook train disaster, when the Trans-Australian Indian Pacific train collided with a V Set commuter train. The memorial can be visited northwest of the Bruce Road bridge at S33° 46.577 E150° 37.327.
Cache
Use your Opal or bank card to access the platform island. If not using trains, tap your card on way out to reverse your transaction.
Start from the platform, where you descend by stairs or lift.
A: Number of 'Glenbrook' station signs in white / blue.
B: Count the number of Opal Card readers (not poles) on the platform island.
C: Opposite the outbound platform 2, a red-roofed green building has 3 numbers displayed. Subtract 2nd from 3rd digits.
D: Near the lift door at platform level, a survey mark (train control) gives the distance from Central Station (km). Use 1st number.
E: Count the number of stone-edged garden beds along the platform island. Drop 2nd number.
F: Number of seat benches with 'Glenbrook' name. Subtract 1.
Cache can be found at S33 46.(A/2)(B)(C) E150 37.(D/2)(E)(F).
You can check your answer at Geocheck.
While the cache has a pencil, please bring a writing stick. Please return to the same hiding spot. If you have not signed the log you have not officially found the cache. Invalid logs can be deleted.