Gogarth station in 1977. Photo (c) Alan Baylis, from his website, used with kind permission.
Gogarth Station
This cache is unusual in that it was inspired by its Geocaching code, GC5ARTH. I'd originally intended to place a cache in the centre of Birmingham, but lack of space between neighbouring caches meant I had to abandon the idea, or at least postpone it. But this code was too good to waste, so I decided to place a cache near the site of this former station.
We have Motorway Mayhem. We have A-Road Anarchy (cos there aren’t many Motorways in Wales!). But what about public transport users? SideTracked Caches are intended to provide quick Cache-and-dashes at railway stations.
Gogarth Halt, along with the nearby halt at Abertafol, was opened in 1935 by the Great Western Railway on the Cambrian Line between Machynlleth and Aberdovey on the north side of the river estuary. They were unstaffed halts, with crude wooden platforms, but unlike many similar stations, they survived the Beeching closures of the 1960s, lasting into the mid 1980s. The last trains called at them on 14th May 1984, officially closing at the end of September the following year. No trace of either of them now exists.
The cache is placed near the start of the path that led from the road to the station. Note that there is no right of way across the railway at this point, so do not go through the gate. There is a layby on the road at the start of the path.
At the time of placing, the cache contains:
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A log book and pencils in a re-sealable plastic bag,
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A large red Welsh Dragon toy as a present for the FTF.
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A few souvenir "nick-nacks". Please remember that these are swaps, not gifts. If you take anything, please replace it with something of equal or greater value, in accordance with Geocaching rules.
Hall of Fame:
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FTF: alaninwales
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STF: The Gummidges
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TTF: ghnijhof