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Weigh Station Traditional Cache

Hidden : 3/7/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is part of the One Degree of Separation Project that was initiated during GeoWoodstock IV (GCTVHQ). It is a seed from the Gulf State Park #8 - ODS Diamond pod.

This cache is located at an old fashioned weigh station in the original heart of Loxley. In these days Loxley was primarily a farming community and railroads were the main form of long distance travel and shipping.

When you are at the coordinates and facing north and slightly east you will see what appears to be a big ditch. This is where the railroad tracks were located. Just on the far side of the tracks is a long wooden building that currently houses the Loxley Farm Center. This building was originally the train depot.

If you turn and face south you will see an old two story wooden building across the street from you. This was originally a hotel and then later a boarding house. The next building to the west was the grocery store. Beside the grocery store, where Emerald Coast Cutlery is located was the site of the town’s telegraph office. Continuing west you will find a two story building where the pharmacy and soda fountain were located.

If you turn and face west and slightly north you will see the Loxley Police station. This is where the bank was located. Across the street to the east of the police station is where the Farm Office and vegetable trading sheds were located. This explains the location of the weigh station, between the trading sheds and railroad tracks.

This scale is an example of a Fairbanks, fully mechanical Truck Scale. Fairbanks was the leader of truck scale design and sales for decades. After them came Howe Scale and Toledo Scale as the leaders of mechanical scales.

In the mid 1970's, the first electronic transducer was marketed and scales began to shift from totally mechanical to electro-mechanical. This means that they still were mechanical but also had electronic displays. This sped up the weighing process greatly.

Fully electronic scales now dominate the sales market, thanks to companies like Weigh-Tronix, B-Tek, Toledo and Fairbanks as they are cheaper to produce and require less maintenance but not because they are more accurate. Mechanical scales are every bit as accurate as electronic scales as long as they are designed, installed and maintained correctly.

This micro contains only a log and a Bermudian Hog penny for the first to find. You will need to bring your own pen as there wasn't room for one. Stealth may be required as this can be very muggle heavy at times. I would not recommend hunting for this one at night as it will be very difficult to find and any flashlights will make you very obvious.

Many thanks to lpMudCat for the information on the scales. Your help allowed us to bring the page back full circle.

Congratulations to nuttyfabes for being the FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

V gubhtug Snveonaxf jnf va Nynfxn?

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)