SWS - West Troy on the WR (C&WM) Traditional Geocache

This cache was hidden as part of the Abandoned Railroads of Newaygo County Geocache Rail Tour, presented by the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center and Silent Whistles. Record the milepost value contained on and/or in each cache container on the Ticket to Newaygo County form. See the additional information below for specific tour requirements.

This cache is on the grade of the West Troy branch of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, just east of Walkup Lake (or Blue Lake), on land owned by the US Government as part of the Manistee National Forest. The hide is at the crossing of a former Flint and Pere Marquette logging branch.

Walkup, Walkup Junction, Woodland Park, Brookings area.

The map above shows the area served by the what became the West Troy Branch of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad. In 1881, or 1883, depending on the source, the White River Railroad was completed from White Cloud to Walkup City on Walkup (Blue) Lake, in section 32 of what is now Merrill Township. The White River Railroad was controlled by the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad at its incorporation, and leased by the C&WM on April 1st, 1880. Shortly after, the line pushed north from a point a few miles east of West Troy and became known as West Troy Junction.

The lumber settlement of Walkup City was surveyed by Thaddeus Waters at the then terminus of the the C&WM. The F&PM also put a line just east of Walkup City. A small sawmill was built at the site, which over time, had financial and legal trouble and changed hands. The West Troy Lumber Company was created in 1883 as a result, with Thomas Walkup as president. The name of the settlement was changed to West Troy. A new and much larger and more modern mill was built at the site. The mill changed hands three more times in the next four years and was involved in lawsuits over production. The mill burned in 1886, but was rebuilt. The mill ceased operation some time before 1892. West Troy survived, at least in name, into the late 1890s, and was listed as a shipping point on the railroad, however, other records show the branch was abandoned in 1895.

Today, locations of former streets are visible in the woods and the grade is visible in places, but little is left of the actual settlement. There are a few cottages on the former town site.

To claim a prize:

1. Download and print the Ticket to Newaygo County form (PDF). See alternate below.
2. Find 28 of the 35 cache hides in the table below.
3. Find at least five of the seven mystery and multi caches in any combination.
4. Record the milepost number from the label or log of each cache you find on a printed copy of the form. Milepost numbers are on cache labels and log book covers.
5. Each individual GC account holder making the find must sign and date the paper log book in the cache with their GC account name. No group logs please.
6. Optionally, upload a photo of your log entry. Be careful to not include the milepost value in the photo.
7. Send the completed form via US Mail to the address on the form. Each GC account holder must send in a form.
   
   Once your answers have been verified, the prize will be sent back to you via US Mail to the address you provide on the form.
   
   The first 95 cachers to complete the tour will be awarded a Silent Whistles pathtag commemorating the Big Rapids Branch of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad.
   
   One prize per completed form. One prize per GC Account.
   
   
   

SWS - Fremont on the M&BR (C&O)	SWS - Newaygo on the RHLCo
SWS - Wooster on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Newaygo on the NPCCo (PM)
SWS - Ryerson Station on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Erwin on the NPCCo (PM)
SWS - Alleyton on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Marl Lake on the NPCCo PM)
SWS - White Cloud on the M&BR (C&O)	SWS - Croton Dam on the CPCo
SWS - Eastman on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Hardy Dam on the CPCo
SWS - White River Club on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - West Troy Junction on the WR (C&WM)
SWS - McLane on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - West Troy on the WR (C&WM)
SWS - Fields on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Sisson on the S&L (C&WM)
SWS - Kinney on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Lilley Junction on the S&L (C&WM)
SWS - Wilcox on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Foxville on the OFCo (C&WM)
SWS - Swains Crossing on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Keno on the OFCo (C&WM)
SWS - Cardinal Junction on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Stimson on the BR&W (GR&I)
SWS - Hayes Siding on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Vincent on the BR&W (GR&I)
SWS - Woodville on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Palmerville on the P&PMR
SWS - Lumberton on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Diamond Lake on the WMLCo
SWS - Hungerford on the M&BR (PM)	SWS - Park City on the WMLCo
SWS - Turnbulls Siding on the M&BR (PM)

Download the Ticket to Ride form:

Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PDF) to download a printable version the form (PDF).
Click Ticket to Newaygo County (PNG) to download an alternate, less clear graphic version of the form.
If you don't have access to a printer, printed copies can be obtained at the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center, or by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to the address on the bottom of the form.

Sources:

• White River Railroad
• Chicago and West Michigan Railroad
• Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1897, R.L. Polk & Co.
• The October Project, Newaygo County, Michigan
• Lumbering in Newaygo County, Harry L. Spooner, © 1946, Cooper Press, reprinted 1976 by the Newaygo County Historical Archive
• Michigan Place Names, Walter Romig, © 1986 Wayne State University Press
• Michigan Railroads and Railroad Companies, Graydon M. Meints © 1992, Michigan State University Press
• Michigan Railroad Lines, Graydon M. Meints © 2005, Michigan State University Press

Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center at: 12 Quarterline Road, Newaygo, Michigan (at the downtown light).

Visit the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center on Thursday, September 11th, 2014 at 7:00PM for the Heritage Speaker Series topic: Logging and Railroads in Newaygo County by Dr. Carl Bajema. Reservations are required