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
About Canberra Miniature Railway
Canberra Miniature Railway in Symonston was established by the Canberra Society of Model and Experimental Engineers, consisting of 113 members (still including some of its founding members). The Society initially established their miniature railway next to the Australian Railway Historical Society's Museum in Kingston; however, with uncertainty about the Kingston Foreshore's future expansion, the Society decided to move to a new location. The last ride at the Kingston Miniature Railway was on 31 July 2017 and the first ride at the newly built and decorated Canberra Miniature Railway was during Feburary 2018.
The Canberra Miniature Railway is made up of two separate gauge ground level tracks and a triple gauge raised track. The ground level tracks comprise of a 500m loop and a 750m loop; while the raised track is a 150m loop. The tracks are open to the public on the 2nd and last Sunday of each month except for December, where it is usually only the second Sunday.
WP1
Here you will find a sign pointing the way to the public acess entrance of the Canberra Miniature Railway, The sign has two lines of text. Using letter values (A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, Z = 26), calculate the value of the following:
AB = 1st line, 1st word, 4th letter
CD = 2nd line, 2nd word, 4th letter
E = 2nd line, 1st word, 5th letter
WP2
Here, you will find the welcome sign for the Canberra Miniature Railway close-by to the public access entrance. The sign has five lines of text. Using letter values again, calculate the value of the following:
FG = 2nd line, 2nd word, 7th letter
HJ = 4th line, 3rd word, 6th letter
K = 5th line, 2nd word, 3rd letter
WP3
Here, you will find the public access entrance for the Canberra Miniature Railway (but only for when it is open to the public). As you face the gate, on the left hand side there is an old train wheel.
On the wheel reads 6????? CSC F890 C. Substitute the following: LMNPQ = ?????
GZ
S35° 2(B-P).(C+K)(D-L)(F*N)
E149° 0(J+A).(B+Q)(E+H)(M-G)
Checksums: S = 22, E = 34
The cache is a micro, so BYOP. Many thanks to Goldenwattle for encouraging me to hide this cache after we both attended the 2020 Christmas event held at the Canberra Miniature Railway, organised by the Oz Mega Committee. Be wary of snakes though as you do this cache because while driving home from that event, I saw a snake slither across this road!
***FTF honours goes to Tankengine and dty73***
Acknowledgement of Country: I would like to pay my respects to the First People: the traditional custodians of the lands and waterways of Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri Country. I would like to acknowledge that this geocache has been placed on what always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.