Rangiora Oxford Line - Carleton (Canterbury) Traditional Geocache
Rangiora Oxford Line - Carleton (Canterbury)
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The eighth cache in the Rangiora to Oxford Line series.
You are looking for an Eclipse container.
On a Geocaching trip around South Canterbury and North Otago in January 2012 we did a series of geocaches by erninz, based on the now-extinct Kurow to Oamaru Railway. Inspired by this great series we decided that this year we would put up a similar series based on the old Rangiora to Oxford Line.
This was part of the Canterbury Interior Main Line, proposed in the 1870’s, that was to link many of the branch lines in the Canterbury region. Specifically these were the Oxford, Eyreton, Midland, Whitecliffs, Methven and Mount Somers branch lines. Although the idea never came to full fruition this most northerly part was constructed and operated.
The Rangiora to Oxford portion was opened on 21 June 1875 and closed on 19 April 1959. The Oxford to Sheffield portion was opened on 28 July 1884 and closed on 14 July 1930.
The Rangiora-Oxford line provided a link between the Main North Line at Rangiora and the Midland Line at Sheffield, passing over the Waimakariri River at a purpose-built rail/road bridge (now the Waimakariri Gorge Road Bridge). The main purpose of the line was to support the growing timber industry in the Oxford area. Oxford and Little River at that time had the two most significant stands of timber in Canterbury.
At the opening of the Rangiora-Oxford line the train travelled from the Rangiora Station to the Oxford West Station for the celebrations. Unfortunately all the dignitaries were assembled at the Oxford East Station and watched the train go straight past! However, the error was communicated to the driver and the train soon returned to the correct station.
The line operated two mixed trains (passengers and freight) each way daily. An evening train also travelled to Oxford from the Eyreton branch line. This line had stations at such places as Kaiapoi, Mandeville, Swannanoa, Horrelville and West Eyreton. But that is another story (and possible series). The Last Train to Clarkeville immediately comes to mind!
The stations along the whole Rangiora Oxford Line were, in order, Rangiora, Bells, Fernside, Stoke, Springbank (Moeraki), Cust, Bennetts Junction (where the Eyreton branch joined it), Carleton, Oxford East, Oxford West, View Hill, Bexley and Sheffield (Malvern). The length of the line, from Rangiora to Oxford West, was 35.47 km and it was a single track, 1.0677mm (3ft 6in) gauge.
Further information on the Rangiora-Oxford Line is available from Beyond the Waimakariri by D N Hawkins, Exploring New Zealand’s Ghost Railways by Leitch and Scott or online by googling Rangiora-Oxford Line.
There are still many points along the adjacent Rangiora-Cust-Oxford road where you can see evidence of the old line – signs, culverts, embankments, reserves and goods sheds. We have attempted to place a cache at or near every station between Rangiora and the Waimakariri Gorge. There are twelve caches altogether – all park and grab. In some cases they are not at the exact spot for various reasons, which will be explained on a cache by cache basis. The alternative sites are in the area and at a relevant/interesting spot.
Each chosen site has an Eclipse tin containing a log sheet, geocaching notice, silica crystal sachet, two pencils and a pencil sharpener. At the top of the log sheet is the name and number of a character from Thomas the Tank Engine books. Remember to read and record that information carefully for a future puzzle cache. (Beside the Line) Please be aware of muggles and return the container to its original position.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cbfg arne fvta