Disappearing RR Blues: The Geer Branch Traditional Cache
subwaymark: Sadly I must archive this cache, my first cache to be archived (other then an event). But it looking over the area, they are cutting the rails into small chunks, so I don't think anywhere is safe for this cache. I will look for a new place for this cache on the Geer Branch, so watch for it in a month or to. Goodbye dear friend :(
Disappearing RR Blues: The Geer Branch
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This cache is placed in Recognition of National Train Day 5/10/08. This is the 2nd in the Disappearing RR Bluse series highlighting abandoned RR structures or right-of-ways in NW Oregon stretching from Eugene to Hillsboro. As a note the tracks here are officially abandoned, rail service is just not possible here.
Welcome to the former Geer Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is unclear when the branch was built, but probably somewhere in the late 1800's. The line runs almost straight line from the Salem Train Station to a location called "Geer" along the former SP Railway that stretches from Woodburn to Silverton to West Stayton. That line was originally built as a narrow gauge line from Ray's Landing on the Willamette River (near Newburg) south to Brownsville in the 1880's.
The Geer Branch is named after the Geer family (TT Geer was the 10th Oregon Governer) that owned land in the Waldo Hills near where "Geer" is located today. The SP leased the Geer Branch to the Willamette Valley Railway in the early 90's. However the SP officially abandoned the line in 1995. Surprisingly rails are still in place east of Cordon Road in Salem. But west, there is little left of the right-of-way.
Hmm, with traffic on Hwy-22 getting crazier, a RR line from Stayton to Salem via Sublimity sounds pretty good, but no chance of it happening now. ODOT removed the I-5 Overpass over the former Geer branch, and various property owners have reclaimed the RR land.
Enjoy!
Congrats to Team Kensquach for FTF
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh yvxr gb or arkg gb ohg haqre gur wbvag jvgu fbzr sreebhf nggenpgvba.