Lost Scottish Railways 2-A Few Words For the Dead
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A multi cache with an ardous final leg along a disused railway line. Overgrown in parts and partially underwater.
Hugh A Barrie and Thomas Baird were two climbers who died tragically on New Years day 1928 in an accident in the Cairngorms. Hugh was educated in Airdrie and his mother was Headmistress of the school in the neighbouring village of Longriggend. Hugh and his mother would have been no stranger to the Slamannan railway line, which ran from Airdrie through Longriggend, serving the villages and coal mines of the area noth east of Airdrie. Much of the line is gone now due to opencast mining (see cache NOTHING BUT FLOWERS), however at least 1 building remains, where the cache is. Hugh A Barrie was known for his poetry, and the poem below, When I Am Dead, was written a few months before his death. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ When I am dead And this strange spark of life that in me lies Is fled to join the great white core of life That surely flames beyond eternities, And all I ever thought of as myself Is mouldering to dust and cold death ash, This pride of nerve and muscle - merest dross, This joy of brain and eye and touch but trash, Bury me not, I pray thee In the dark earth where there comes not any ray Of light or warmth or aught that make life dear; But take my whitened bones far, far away Out of the hum and turmoil of the town, Find me a wind - swept boulder for a bier And on it lay me down Where far beneath drops sheer the rocky ridge Down to the gloomy valley, and the streams Fall foaming white against black beetling rocks: Where the suns kindly radiance seldom gleams: Where some tall peak, defiant, steadfast mocks The passing gods: and all the ways of men Forgotten. So I may know Even in that death which comes to everything The swiftly silent swish of hurrying snow; The lash of rain; the savage bellowing Of stags; the bitter keen - knife - edge embrace of the rushing wind: and the still tremulous dawn Will touch the eyeless sockets of my face; And I shall see the sunset and anon Shall know the velvet kindness of the night And see the stars. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The cache begins at the former Airdrie Academy -55°51.834'N, 3°58.824'W, where Hugh was educated for 5 terms. The location given is for the entrance to the school, which is still in use, so please do not go in. On the front of the school you can clearly see two plaques, detailing when the school was renovated, in the year ABBC. !NOTE! THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED! THE DATE ON THE PLAQUE WAS 1887. Drive now to the village of Longriggend. There were 2 schools in the village, the Catholic school being near the railway bridge, the protestant school was at the wooden hut, south of the church. The schools are now gone, but the village church, now disused, still stands at N55 5(B/2) 55(B/2) W003 53 0AB. You can enter the grounds of the church, and make note of the number of windows. How many windows are on the NORTH side. This is D. How many windows are above the front door. This is E. You can now go to the cache itself at: N55°5E.BDD' W003°55.(D-E)(A+B)B. The railway is very overgrown in parts and is also extremely wet. It is recommended you stick to the line of the railway where possible, as the surrounding area has many old mine workings. Much of it can be covered on a good mountain bike, although it has to be carried in parts. If on foot I would strongly recommend wellingtons. The cache is located at some old railway/ mining buildings, hidden in the trees. The cache itself is a large box, containing logbook and pen, a clock, lights, Network Rail ice scraper, a CD for the FTF and a TB. Please try not to disturb the moss on the bricks, as this should help deter muggles, who use the old paths for walking and motorcycling.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ng gur onfr bs gur jnyy, haqre zbff pbirerq oevpxf.