Three Bridges and a Tunnel Traditional Cache
Dalesman: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
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DalesmanX
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Three Bridges and a Tunnel
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This cache is just off New Bridge Street in Newcastle in a heritage area called Ouseburn. There's loads of history down here and the area is being redeveloped so is teaming with muggles. Please use caution when visiting this site, as I've had problems finding a suitable site for the cache.Its suprising how "public" this site is. Many thanks to Alistair for his input.
Once you get here, look up. The three bridges you see are Byker Road Bridge(the brick one, Byker Viaduct(Concrete.Metro), and the GNE Rail bridge(Cast Iron). All three were built to span the gorge your standing in. It's 100ft deep and in the latter part of the 19th century, was a major stumbling block for the expansion of Newcastle to the east.
If you look beneath the cast iron bridge however, you can see the top of an arch, in the area painted white, at the back of the horse riding ring. This is one end of the Ouseburn Culvert.
It was built in 2 stages. In 1907, the Corporation brought in L.G.Muchel & Co, the French pioneers of re-inforced concrete.They'd already built the Co-Op Wholesale Society Warehouse on the Quayside( now Malmaison), and the Spanish city in Whitley Bay. This time all they wanted was a pipe laid along the valley floor which would allow the Ouseburn river to flow along it. This pipe was 30ft wide, 20ft high and about 1/3rd of a mile long. Once in place, a landfill site was designated above it and the gorge was gradually filled in. Indeed, the area above it , just off Warwick Street, is still known as the Tip Park.
The Culverts size and depth made it perfect for use as an air raid shelter during WWII and the arched section you can still see, was its entrance.
By the way, as you pass under the Metro Bridge, remember it was put together in sections and GLUED together!?!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre gur obneqjnyx
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