GC11QT5 Charles City Western RR Travel Bug Depot #17 (Traditional Cache) in Iowa, United States created by Charles City Biker

This cache has been archived.

-Tiki-: No response from owner. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the current guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

GC11QT5 ▼

A cache by Charles City Biker Message this owner

Hidden : 4/8/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: large (large)

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Geocache Description:

USE EXTREME STEALTH WHEN FINDING THIS CACHE!!
This cache is near the last remaining pieces of railroad track on the Charles Western Railroad.
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This cache is dedicated to the Charles City Western Railroad.
Please leave ONE travel bug in the cache at ALL times.

If you take something, please leave something train related.
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In 1910, local promoters in Charles City, Ia, proposed this railroad to give their city another railroad connection by building to Marble Rock and the Rock Island RR. Charles City already was served by the Illinois Central and the St. Paul (Milwaukee Road later). The two major industries, Hart-Parr Tractor (later Oliver) and Sherman Nursery, wanted service to their industries. The line opened on January 1, 1911, and operation included local city service (depot at 1006 N. Grand) in Charles City using gas powered streetcars. As in so many other cases, operation with gas powered equipment was unreliable, and electrification came in 1914. In 1915, an extension and electrification continued the railroad to Colwell. There were plans to continue it to Elma where it would connect to the Chicago Great Western but the money ran out. In 1921, local service ended but the downtown trackage remained for a few years and was torn up in 1926. On July 19, 1952, passenger service ended but most of the income was from freight service. Excess equipment was scrapped and only the diesels, the two electric locomotives, and Car 50 were retained. The line was acquired by the Iowa Terminal RR (Mason City) on December 31, 1963, and was operated as the Charles City Division. A massive F-5 tornado destroyed much of the over-head wires on May 1968 and was later abandoned. In 2001, the city acquired the railroad and transformed it into a paved trail from G St to Hwy 14. Late 2005, the city finished the trail section from G St to F St and Hwy 14 to Grover St.
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Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast

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Scenic routes:
Avenue of the Saints
Jefferson Highway
Old Highway US 18
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