This cache has been inspired by Muzza's series of End Of The Line
Caches in Melbourne. As I manage to discover other dead rail lines
in Adelaide more will appear, hopefully near the end points or
elsewhere of interest where that isn't practical.
Doing some research on an old train line that runs close to home
I came across this very interesting one. This line ran from Glenelg
to Brighton and on towards Marino. Despite opposition from local
residents approval was gained and the line opened 13/1/1879 under
the control of the Glenelg and South Coast Tramway Co. However it
was a train and not a tram, the right to lay either being via an
Act of Parliament on 1/12/1877. A large shed was constructed at
Somerton to house the rolling stock.
This route ran down Moseley Street, The Mall and Tarlton Street
to Somerton then running over the sand dunes to Brighton and Marino
Rocks (hard to imagine now). It finished just above the high water
mark at Marino - this now seems to be due west of the present
Seacliff Railway Station. There was also hope of funds by
transporting stone from the quarries at Marino but this did not
eventuate.
It closed 15 months later on 22/4/1880, supposedly due to it
being unviable with the continual sand drifts across the line.
Other claims were made that there was a lot of mismanagement. At
the same times horse drawn trams were operating down Brighton Road.
(info sourced from "Historic Glenelg" a history book created by the
City of Holdfast Bay in 1979)
The cache location is hidden roughly where the map shows the
line finished, and is a camo lunchbox hidden at ground level - no
scrambling needed. Difficulty rating will vary, on a cold wet day
it will be easy, on a hot summer weekend muggles will be
everywhere.
The cache has now been slightly relocated to avoid the previous
rock problems, thanks Team Waldron.