REALLY SideTracked - Strathblane (Blane Valley RW) Traditional Geocache
Hidden : 11/28/2015
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

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 at the SideTracked Website

See also: https://www.railscot.co.uk/Blane_Valley_Railway/index.php

About Strathblane Station


On 1st July 1867 the first passenger train made its way through Strathblane from Killearn to Glasgow. The new line had stations at Lennoxtown (Blane Valley), Campsie Glen, Strathblane, Blanefield and Killearn.

As well as conveying agricultural produce, the new line was viewed as a tourist line to open up the natural beauty of the area. The original plan had been to continue the Blane Valley Line to Aberfoyle and from there to Inversnaid on Loch Lomond. However, the Duke of Montrose objected to this and the line was terminated at Aberfoyle.

On the 29th September 1934 the Forth & Clyde Junction Railway closed to passengers. In many ways, this could be seen as the beginning of the end for the Blane Valley Line as with the fall in the number of passengers, trains had begun to terminate at Blanefield and the few passengers travelling further were conveyed in a Sentinel Steamcar to Aberfoyle. During the Second World War, the line again became busy but with freight as it was reported that ammunition was stored in the Aberfoyle area and had to be transported out by train. Trains with two engines pulling approximately 22 wagons were seen travelling through the parish during the war years.
Perhaps this was just a passing reprieve for the line as, on the 1st October 1951 it was announced that the Aberfoyle-Kirkintilloch section would be closed to passengers, the stations affected being; Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown, Campsie Glen, Strathblane, Blanefield, Dumgoyne, Killearn, Balfron, Buchlyvie and Aberfoyle. The bus service was there to ensure that those who had previously used the train had an alternative. It was agreed that freight train traffic in full wagon loads would continue to be dealt with at the stations on the branch line, and there would be no change in the existing arrangements for dealing with freight train traffic in less than truck loads.

However, freight was only conveyed for the next eight years and on the 5th October, 1959 the Aberfoyle section of the line closed to freight. At the same time the Forth & Clyde Junction Railway also closed to freight thus effectively closing the railway link to the parish and beyond. By 1966 the line from Lennoxtown to Lenzie Junction had been closed and work had started on removing the track as well as demolishing the bridges.

In total the passenger line to the parish had lasted for 84 years and the freight line 93 years. Its arrival had heralded contact with the Industrial Central Belt of Scotland and provided an opportunity for the Printworks and others to develop trade as well as creating links with Glasgow and beyond. However, in the fullness of time, high fares, poor time tabling coupled with the development of cheaper bus services in the 1920's, as well as being on a meandering Branch Line all contributed to sounding the death knell for the line.
Thanks to http://www.strathblanefield.org.uk/home.html for the info.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

cbfg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


Attributes

No attributes available

Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all 4 bookmark lists...