SideTracked - Bedminster Traditional Geocache
Robbo 666: Cache heaven for this one - I've moved away from the area, and maintenance is too difficult.
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A small cache hidden near to Bedminster Railway station and the lovely Victoria Park.
If you plan your visit on one of the Sundays listed below you get a cracking view of a steam train ;-)
The cache is on the edge of a community planted flower bed, no need to enter the planted area!!!
Side Tracked caches have become a nationwide series of caches for public transport users. They are intended to provide quick cache-and-dashes at or nearby railway stations. Caches can be found close to stations of the national rail network and heritage railways. For more information on the SideTracked series of caches can be found here (visit link)
The Bristol and Exeter Railway was opened on 14 June 1841. The local station was initially called Ashton but had been moved and then renamed Bedminster by 27 May 1884, when a new station was opened 250 yards further away from Bristol Temple Meads station. It was now on an elevated section of line with an entrance from Windmill Hill which passed beneath the railway, and was extended in 1908 to allow access to the platforms from the other end too.
The original line had just been two tracks, but on 30 April 1932 a much larger station was brought into use, now serving four tracks from two island platforms. From north to south the tracks were the Up Relief and Up Main (towards Temple Meads), Down Main and Down Relief. New station buildings were provided on both platforms but have since been swept away and replaced by basic waiting shelters.
A coal yard was provided here but goods traffic at Bedminster ceased on 1 June 1964 and staff were removed from the station in September 1968. To the east of the station was Pylle Hill Goods Depot and to the west was Malago Vale Carriage Sidings; a carriage washing machine was provided on a loop off the Down Relief line to allow carriages to be cleaned during their journey to Malago. These sidings have now closed but the Down Relief and loop are still in place as far as Bedminster to allow for short-term storage of trains away from Temple Meads.
The station has a number of murals based on local themes, painted by local kids - the station is un-staffed, so you can walk in for a good look if you have time.
On the following Sundays in 2012 at about 9.15am a steam train will pass through, great place to view for little and big kids alike :-) You can hear and see the train at Temple Meads from Bedminster station, it is building up speed nicely by the time it passes through!
1,8, 15 & 22 July
5 & 19 August
2, 9 & 16 September
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fdhner cbfg ol gur cnex tngrf, zntargvp