SideTracked - Burracoppin
Location Information
About the Location
Burracoppin was originally known as Burancooping, the name given to a nearby hill in 1864 which is Aboriginal in original and is supposed to mean 'big hill.' The town was gazetted in 1891 at the start of the Yilgarn gold rush. The town was near one of Hunt's Wells (of which I have placed a cache) and was used as a water source by those heading to Southern Cross. By the mid-1890s the town was served by railway, with the Eastern Goldfields Railway constructed from Northam to Southern Cross. The dam near town served as a water supply for the steam engines that run. The track was realigned in the 1960s when the gauge was converted and in the early 1970s a new station was constructed ahead of the Prospector service commencing in 1971. This station remains in use today.
Photo Information and Credit (all images accessed via Rail Heritage WA): (1) P.Ipkendanz, 29 October 1971 - WCA Class Prospector set during initial testing at the station before the Prospector commenced passenger service in November 1971.
Access Information
Catch the Prospector or MerredinLink to this cache. Alternatively, the cache is 2WD accessible to the parking area on Burracoppin Siding Road (northern side of the tracks opposite the station). Caravans and towing vehicles can turn around at this location, with plenty of space available. The track on the southern side of the railway is 4WD only most of the year and has limited room to turn around.
Cache Information
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.
Container Description
This cache is a 200mL Sistema. It contains a logbook, and also has room for swaps and trackables. There were some swaps and a pencil inside the cache at the time of placement.
Important Reminders
Please replace the cache as found and bring your own pen to sign the log.