GC149Y3 End of the Line -- Frisco RR Augusta KS (Traditional Cache) in Kansas, United States created by robfire820

This cache has been archived.

Robfire: Well, I hate to see this one go......The Frisco will live on. I am researching other locations for a new End Of the Line Cache: Frisco RR. Un fortunately it may not be as close as this one. The bridge that was here was not in the best of shape and the county feared that another flood could wash out this bridge and then go downstream and take out the Thunder Rd bridge and the newer BNSF bridgesover the Walnut River. I want to thank all who took the time to come find this one I know you had as much fun findinit as I did in hiding it. Rob

GC149Y3 ▼

A cache by robfire820 Message this owner

Hidden : 8/26/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Here is a great cache, a little history and a lot of exercise!

Founded in on July 19th of 1853 Ground was broken for the St Louis-San Franciso Railroad. Construction started at Franklin(now Pacific), Missouri and extend to Rolla, MO by 1860, then the Civil War slowed the process of westward movment of the RR and the state of Missouri to it over in 1866 and held some control over the RR until 1875, and in the process spawned a couple of other railroads, the Missouri Pacific and the Southern Pacific, both of which have now been absorbed by the UP. BY 1880 the Frisco lines were expanding and made it to Wichita along this very grade where the cache is located. Though a stable RR Frisco never made it west of Texas, though they did expand East into Tennasee, Mississippi, Alabama, and then on into Floridia. After running as a regional RR for many years the Frisco again fell into hard times and in 1966 a majority of its stock was purchased by the Burlington Northern Railway and in 1977 the 2 railraods began merger talks, and the Frisco was completly disolved into the Burlington Northern in November of 1980. The Burlington Northern continued to use this track and route , and in 1995 Burlington Northern and the ATSF (Santa Fe RR) merged and with plenty of ATSF routs and East to west routs by both Railroads this line was doomed for abandonment. The last train to pass on the now lifted tracks headed East in August of 1997. The rails were soon lifeted and the grade is now public property.
To find the cache you will need a good set of walking shoes or boots the terrain is not all that difficult though the hike is long. You are lookling for a CAMMO 1/2 gallon type jug in some very good cover. The Cache is located right near the bridge which spans the Whitewater river, this is a beautiful and senic area and if you choose to hike across the bridge use caution as it is an open truss type with nothing between the ties (if you dont like heights you might not want to come in from the East! Though the ties are only about 6" apart.) but open air and a long look down. As always enjoy the scenery and the view as this is a great area and a grat hike.

Facts about the SLSF:
Miles of track:1929 - 5735; 1979 - 4653
Number of Engines:1929 - 880; 1979 - 43
Reporting Marks: SLSF
The only portion of this track that is still in opperation today is between Fredonia and Cherryvale, Kansas and is run by the South East Kansas Railroad.

Map of The SLSF RR

NOTICE YOU WILL NEED TO PARK AT EITHER MILE SECTION, DO NOT PARK ON THUNDER ROAD OR OIL ACCESS ROADS THESE ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY OR DANGERS ROADS!

ALSO NOTE THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS MAY BE COME THE SPIDER TUNNEL OF DEATH AND THAT THERE ARE MANY SPIDERS ALONG THIS ROUTE!
Good Luck and Happy Caching!
NEED HELP LIFELINE ROBFIRE820 @ 316-833-6980

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

va ebpxf

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)