The
Long Erie Lackawanna Pathway
Here is an easy walk down a nice bike path, formerly
railroad right of way. You will only need to leave the path about 30 feet to locate the
cache. It isn't past the barbed wire fence and anyway the sign says keep out of that area.
The cache is stocked with Ant Stickers, Hologram sunglasses, Curious George Nail
Clippers, Children's Scissors, A new, cool Cat Collar with a bell, (for your cat of
course). Everything is brand new, never used.
The Erie Lackawanna RailsTrail pathway was originally part of the
right-of-way of the Chicago & Atlantic Railway, completed in Marion, Ohio, and the
State line near Hammond (In.) in June, 1882. In the 20th century, the route became famous
for its fast freight trains between Chicago & the East coast. Because the Erie
Railroad avoided the congestion of most big cities, it moved freight faster than many
rival Railroads. In 1960, having fallen on hard times, the Erie merged with the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad. In 1968, ownership of the company was transferred to
the Norfolk & Western Railroad and the name was changed slightly, to the Erie
Lackawanna Railroad. Erie Lackawanna operations in Ohio and East were absorbed by Conrail
in 1976. After several attempts failed to revive this western end of the line, it was
sold, primarily to scrappers, who dismantled the Railroad beginning in 1979. Small
portions of the one-time Chicago and Atlantic Railway in Indiana and Ohio survived in
their original business as short line Railroads. |
Park at either N41 31.152 W87 25.598 or
N41 30.561 W87 25.164