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.
The historical bit
The railway arrived in Sutton in 1847, when the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway opened a line linking West Croydon and Epsom. At the time Sutton was a small town of only around 1,500 residents, and the first “station” was little more than a wooden hut beside the track. Despite its modest beginnings, the railway quickly transformed the area, bringing new visitors and making Sutton far more accessible to London.
As the town grew, so did the station. New railway branches were added, including the Epsom Downs line in 1865 and a route towards Mitcham Junction in 1868, turning Sutton into an increasingly important junction in South London’s rail network. The opening of the Epsom Downs branch was particularly significant: during Derby week in 1865 alone, around 70,000 passengers travelled along the line, showing how rapidly rail travel was expanding.
The station itself was rebuilt several times to keep pace with the town’s growth - a larger station building replaced the original wooden structure in the 19th century. The current station dates largely from 1928, when it was rebuilt again to handle the increasing number of commuters travelling into London each day.
Another major development came in 1930, when the line to Wimbledon opened as part of the Wimbledon and Sutton Railway. This was one of the last suburban railway lines built in the London area and further strengthened Sutton’s role as a transport hub connecting Surrey and South London with central London.
Today Sutton station remains the main rail gateway for the town, providing direct services to central London and destinations across southern England. While modern commuters may hurry through its platforms, the station’s long history reflects how the arrival of the railway helped turn Sutton from a small Surrey village into the busy suburban centre it is today.
The cache bit
The cache is located down the side of Sutton station in this quiet area where there are a couple of carparks but not much else. Free parking (max 15 minutes before 6.30pm, Mon-Sat) is available in the bays along The Quadrant.
No spoiler photos in logs please.
Happy hunting!