Skip to content

S.M.V.R.R. 210 Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 1/31/2009
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Related Web Page

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

The cache is located at the site commemorating a relatively unknow part of the valley's history- the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The cache container is a painted alotoid tin to blend in with its surroundings. You can park within a few feet of the cache. this is a perfect spot for children off all ages as they can crawl around the structure. There is a Rite in Rain log and a signature running@50 $2 bill for the FTF.

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad was started in 1911 by an English oil syndicate to haul oil and asphalt from Roadamite to Guadalupe. The SMVRR reached Santa Maria on October 7, 1911 and was completed to Roadamite on November 5, 1911. G. Allan Hancock purchased the SMVRR in 1925 and was the president of the railroad until he passed away in 1965. At that time, his widow Marian (Marian Medical Center is named for her) took over the railroad along with Sue Sword, making the SMVRR one of the few railroads in the history of American railroading to be controlled by women.Captain Hancock developed the SMVRR into one of the nation's best-run and best-equipped short line railroads. By 1925 there were five vegetable produce shippers in Santa Maria and nine in Guadalupe. More fresh vegetable shipments would originate from the Santa Maria Valley that year than from any other shipping point in the nation. (who would have known!) The fresh produce business continued to grow and in May 1927 Santa Maria was among the nation's top shippers. . The SMVRR was one of the last railroads in the west to run steam locomotives. The last run of No. 21 was on February 24, 1962. Captain Hancock took the throttle and Walt Disney rode in the cab. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the SMVRR continued to haul sugar beets and oil. In August 1993, Holly Sugar closed down and oil production would decline in the valley. The loss of the sugar refinery and decline in the oil business was a blow to the car-loadings for the SMVRR. The Rosemary Trust took over full control of the railroad in 2000 and the current management brought new customers and new car-loadings back to the SMVRR.You can click on the SMVRR website, http://smvrr.com, and see that there are several 2.5 hour train rides between Guadalupe and Santa Maria- many offering dinners and a chance to sample something most have never experinced before.



BYOP

Congratulations to THE DBL A-TEAM for the FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

jngpu lbhe FGRCF

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)