GCY7NR Pueblo History Cache 101 a+ (Traditional Cache) in Colorado, United States created by coloradojeep

This cache has been archived.

HighCountryAdmin: I am archiving this defunct geocache to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair or replace the cache sometime in the future, please contact me via my profile, and assuming it still meets the guidelines, I will be happy to unarchive it.

Thank you,
HighCountryAdmin
Volunteer Cache Reviewer

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GCY7NR ▼

A cache by coloradojeep Message this owner

Hidden : 9/9/2006

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Pueblo History Cache 101

This was our first PHC and our favorite. After a bit of road construction in the area our cache was taken along with a huge cottonwood tree. Thanks DOT!! But it's back now and ready to go.
To get here you will want to take the Porter Draw Exit (exit 106) This is a short on and off so use caution when entering or exiting I-25. This is accessible from north or south bound I-25 you you just have to be on the lookout for the exit.

From the cache site if you look off to the east you will see a train bridge. This bridge site is where your history lesson begins. The bridge is on private property so please no trespassing.

On August 7, 1904 this bridge #110B was the sight of the Eden Train Wreck. Heavy rains and a flash flood caused Express #11 of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to wreck. It was the worst train tragedy of the time. 96 people lost their lives, 52 were from Pueblo. Express #11 of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad was heading south from Colorado Springs to Pueblo. The engineer was issued a caution because of thunderstorms in the area and he slowed to 15 to 20 mph. When they reached the bridge the engineer could feel the train sway side to side. At the time the engine reached solid track the bridge gave way. The engine lost momentum and fell back into the gulch along with the baggage car, the coach, and the chair car.

Fireman Mayfield was able to escape from the train and swim to safety. He ran to the Eden Train Station (station is no longer there) with the news. By morning crews and volunteers were at hand to search for bodies and remove the train from the gulch. As unbelievable as it may seem, bridge number 110-B was rebuilt (around the battered locomotive still in the sand below it) and regularly scheduled Express, No. 11 went over the rebuilt bridge that Monday evening, 24 hours after the disaster.
Bodies were found in the Arkansas as far east as Ordway and by the best estimates, 14 bodies were never found.

More information can be found on the Tragedy at Eden at pueblohistory.org and in the book Tragedy at Eden in the local library.

There is a memorial on the other side of the gulch from where the cache is, but it is not accessible from this site without trespassing. We were able to get to it because we pulled off the highway and drove along the fence line. I don't recomend this by the way, but here are some pictures of what is there.