Appleford GeoCache Series
After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38, 60-61, 80-81, 84, 104-106), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45, 47-48, 53, 59, 62-63, 66-67, 69-79, 82-83, 90-103, 107-112, 117-119, 121-129), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46, 54-55, 58, 68), Chilton (cache #27-28, 85), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39, 64-65), Milton (cache #40, 49-52, 56-57), Upton (cache #86-87), Long Wittenham (cache #88-89), Hagbournes (cache #114-116), Kingsgrove (cache #120, 130-132) and Compton (cache #133-134), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something new when you are caching, thank you!
Appleford #135 - Appleford Railway Station (Officially Known as SideTracked - Appleford)
Appleford railway station serves the village of Appleford-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, England, as well as nearby settlements such as Sutton Courtenay. It is on the Cherwell Valley Line between Didcot Parkway and Banbury, 55 miles 16 chains (88.8 km) measured from London Paddington. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Great Western Railway.
Layout
The station entrance is on a humpback bridge and passengers must descend steep steps to the platforms.
Platform 1 is for Down trains towards Oxford, and Platform 2 is for Up trains towards Didcot Parkway. South of the station is a pedestrian level crossing; the barrier is normally lowered with lights off. The user has to press a button for the signaller to raise the barriers; then they are lowered again once the user is clear of the crossing. The lights are only used to warn people that the barriers are coming down.
History
The station opened originally with the line from Didcot to Oxford, on 12 June 1844. It had been planned and partly built by the Oxford Railway, which was absorbed into the Great Western Railway before the opening of the line. It was however closed after just a few years in February 1849.
The Great Western Railway reopened the station as "Appleford Halt" on 11 September 1933 in response to growing competition from buses.
The station then passed to the Western Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.
British Rail discontinued its "Halt" suffix on 5 May 1969. The station was served by Network SouthEast when sectorisation was introduced in the 1980s.
Unusually, until recently it retained the original wooden platforms and corrugated iron pagoda-roofed waiting shelters. These have been replaced by "bus shelter"-like waiting shelters. The station has never been staffed; originally passengers could buy tickets at the village post office, but since this has closed, they need to buy tickets from the guard (or as an e-Ticket via a Phone App).
Services
All services at Appleford are operated by Great Western Railway.
The typical off-peak service is one train every two hours in each direction between Didcot Parkway and Oxford, with most trains continuing beyond Oxford to and from Banbury. Additional services call at the station during the peak hours at Appleford are operated by Great Western Railway.
No services call at the station on Sundays.
Information Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appleford_railway_station
About this multi-cache:
At the published coordinates, you will be standing in front of three signs on a single post. How many lines of words are there on the highest sign? Let it be A.
And how many words are there in the bottom line on this sign? Let it be B.
Now look at the middle sign, the number of letters in the word on the top line of this middle sign is C.
Finally, look at the bottom sign. How many red dots are there on this sign? Let it be D.
And how many red words are there in the bottom line? Let it be E.
Lastly, how many words are there between the only two brackets on this sign? Let it be F.
The final coordinates are a short distance away at:
N51 38 . ( C - B ) ( A + B - E ) ( C - A )
W001 14 . ( D * B / E ) ( C - F ) ( C / ( C - B ) )
You may check your answer via the following GeoCheck:
Please also note:
The recreational ground is close to the railway tracks, so please be very careful when retrieving the cache and doing the admin, especially when visiting with GeoKids and/or GeoPets. No cache is hidden on any of the railway properties.
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns and stinging nettles. Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to rosela and Tom Tom's Army for their Joint FTF on 16 March 2026!
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.
