The Valley & Siletz Railroad
was a logging railroad that ran from Independence up into the coast
range to the town of Valsetz. The town was actually named after the
railroad. Construction started in 1912. Unlike many other branch
lines in the Valley, this railroad was never owned by the Southern
Pacific. Boise-Cascade was the lines last full operator until the
mill at Valsetz, and the rest of the town was shuddered in 1978. 2
miles of trackage survived in Independence until the Mountain Fir
lumber company closed in 1992. At the northern end of town there is
still some track left of the old V&S last run by the Willamette
Valley Railway. Now it just services a old RR shop, not much
happens on this line today.
The cache is located across from
the V&S Depot, although this can't be the original spot as the
line was further west of the active railroad thru town (former SP
now Portland & western Line to Corvallis). But there is a great
interpretive sign with a map of the line!
 |
 |
| Former V&S
Independence Depot |
Interpretive
sign |
The cache is a small Rx bottle
located across the street from the depot in a parking lot where
more research might be able to be found. Sadly I did not have a
Utah Golden Spike Quarter for the cache, but did leave a 2 other
quarters for FtF. Congrats to Geogold for FTF!