This is a Multicache - the cache is not at the published coordinates
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 on the SideTracked Series website at https://www.sidetrackedseries.info where you can also find out about creating your own SideTracked caches.
REALLY SideTracked caches in the series are about disused or heritage railways such as this one, they are not functioning railways for normal travel, and in the case of heritage railways, usually looked after by railway preservation organisations.
You do not have to enter the gated Bo'ness Train Station site or pay any entrance fee to do this cache.
This station is not the original Bo'ness railway station, which was located roughly a quarter mile west on Seaview Place. The site of the original station is now a car park, and marked as a waypoint for this cache, purely for interest. The map below is Bo'ness in the 1890s, and the original train station is marked as a red circle, with the current heritage railway station circled in blue. The Docks next to the current station were next to a major freight terminus that became the current station. Timber, Coal, Whisky, Iron and other local products were shipped from here.
Bo'ness - 1890s
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society operates the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, which has been developed since 1979 on a site adjacent to the once busy dock at Bo'Ness. Several historic buildings have been obtained and re-erected to provide a traditional railway setting. Bo'ness station opened in 1981. The line was extended to Kinneil in 1987 and to Birkhill in 1989, where the fireclay mine was open to the public until 2010. Since 2010 the passenger service has continued to Manuel, where a platform has been created. It's a scenic ten mile return train journey to Manuel along the Forth Estuary, through woodlands, past waterfalls and over the Avon Viaduct.
The original railway line ran from Bo'ness to Slamannan, and was heavily linked to industry, with links to the Union Canal and also to the port here in Bo'ness.
Original Slamannan to Bo'ness Railway Line
The Bo'ness Station site also contains Scotland's largest railway museum. Visitors can try out the interactive displays, or board a vintage Glasgow Subway Tram. You can also operate the signals and work out how to operate the track points, as well as looking round a Post Office Coach and try sorting the letters yourself. The Scottish Railway Museum here can be accessed over the metal footbridge near the entrance to the Train Station. There's a Visitor Trail around the site which includes the Model Railway, Display Shed and Engineering Workshop, as well as a Viewing Gallery.
This a multicache, you can read more about this cache type here. The final cache is less than 5 minutes walk from the published coordinates. It's located at N 56° 1.ABC' W 3° 35.DEF. Visit the two stage locations below to find the missing coordinates. They have been added as waypoints on the cache page so you can navigate to them, but the two stages are just a couple of dozen feet apart. Please pay attention to any safety signs around the area.
Information Board at N 56° 1.090' W 3° 36.125' (Published Coordinates)
A: Look at the big noticeboard just next to the steps up to the black footbridge over the tracks. It shows scenes from the Railway Museum and opening times. There’s a picture of an old yellow carriage carrying salt on it. Bottom left hand corner of the carriage, there's a number: 6-A6-0
C & E: The same yellow carriage can take a Load of CE tons.
B: Look at the bottom right corner of that same information board, there is information about who designed and illustrated it. The number of capital Ds in that line equals B.
Black Footbridge Over Tracks at N 56° 1.097' W 3° 36.128'
D: Go up on to the middle of the footbridge looking down on the tracks. When you are facing the train station there is a large white sign to the left about Bo’Ness Harbour. How many letters in the words on the top line starting ‘W_? The answer equals D.
F: While still standing on that footbridge, again looking towards the station, you will also see a signal box to the left hand side (with white windows) and some black railings near the steps up to its entrance. There's a large black sign on those railings with 3 lines of white writing on it. Add the number of letters in the 2nd word to the number of letters in the 3rd word. The answer is equal to F. There's a (doctored) picture of the sign in the gallery to help you spot the right one.
When you have all the missing coordinates, the 6 digits for the missing coordinates should add up to 20.