Please Go Easy (aka: The Royal Hudson) Traditional Geocache
Highlander 71: This cache was one of my early ones, and after a chequered five and a half year history, the time has come to archive it. I have lost count of how many times I had to replace the container over the years and today was the final straw when, once again, a 10 minute search failed to produce the cache.
To all who came looking, thanks for you interest in my cache; to all who DNFed, my apologies; to all who found it, kudos! Cache on!
Please Go Easy (aka: The Royal Hudson)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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In 1912, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway was created for the purpose of uniting the province of BC by rail. One of its first tasks was to provide transportation across the North Shore. Construction began in 1913 and by the next year the new line was open for business, running from Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay. The railway was intended to extend as far as Prince George, but WW I and financial issues caused numerous delays, which had people saying PGE stood for “Prince George Eventually”.
The PGE couldn't overcome its operating difficulties and was taken over by the provincial government. Unfortunately, in 1917 a new road opened, and Marine Drive's growing popularity combined with West Van's new Blue Bus service proved to be the eventual undoing of the railway, which ceased operation on the North Shore in 1928.
The PGE returned to the North Shore in 1956, and it flourished during the years WAC Bennett was Premier of BC. He once boasted that the railway would run to the Yukon and Alaska, and by 1971, service had reached Fort Nelson, less than 160 km from the Yukon.
From 1972 thru 1989, plagued by ongoing operating losses, the railway changed its name twice and received extensive government bailouts. PGE became known as British Columbia Railway, then simply BC Rail in 1984. Continuing financial shortfalls prompted the provincial government to put the troubled railway up for sale, and in 2004 the Canadian National Railway took over.
The line's history isn't all financial gloom and political intrigue, though. In 1974, an old steam locomotive began a tourist run in the North Vancouver to Squamish corridor under the name of The Royal Hudson. Old 2860 proved to be the most successful train to operate on this section of PGE track, carrying over a million passengers and generating more than $300 million in economic benefits throughout its 25 years of service. It became an icon for BC tourism, recognizable the world over, but had to be retired from regular service in 1999 after being declared unfit to continue without an expensive major refit.
Despite the chequered history of the railway, there has been a wooden pedestrian crossing here at 26th Street for more than 50 years. When I was a kid I used to play here often with my friends, whether we were defending an Old West fort, sword-fighting on castle parapets, or facing our ultimate dare: can you stand in the centre of the span while a train is passing below?
If you have time, check out the view up at the top of the stairs. This is a great area for walking or biking. Parking is limited in this quiet neighbourhood but there is usually something available a block east, near Dundarave Park. And there's always the Blue Bus, with stops nearby. Placed with permission.
(Cache could be considered somewhat wheelchair accessible)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
guvf pbhyq or lbhe frpbaq fgrc be lbhe arkg gb ynfg