Illinois Central--Freight Train: Boxcar
This series was created to celebrate my thousandth find and to say thank-you to the many cachers who have placed the caches that have given me such enjoyment. This series is especially inspired by imcgisme’s Beefies series and brainandbraun’ Whimsical Tales series with some help from rcflyer2242’s caches. The series is also designed with beginning cachers and especially kids in mind. All hides should be very easy and I hope that the cache containers help make it fun for kids of all ages. Families with small children and folks with complaining joints should note that the terrain for the passenger train series is straight forward and should not present much trouble. However, the terrain for the freight train series is varied. The railroad embankment near the beginning of the train is high and fairly steep, especially for the tender and tank car. These numbers should be pretty easy to guess, so it is possible to find the mystery train without climbing to these caches. Occasionally it might not be obvious where to find the log on the container. In these cases a hint will guide you. On the outside of each cache container is a series of numbers. Be sure to record the ones digit as you will need it to find the final: Mystery Train--At the Station. For example, if the number on the outside of the cache container reads 123, you would need to record the number 3.
The Badger State Trail runs on the former bed of the Freeport to Madison line of the Illinois Central. The line was originally constructed for the CM&N Railroad running from Freeport Illinois to Madison Wisconsin. It was completed in 1888 with the first train making the run on February 1, 1888. The final run was made in 1991. As part of the state of Wisconsin's Rails to Trails program, the Badger State Trail opened in 2007 with the final paved section from Purcell Road north to Madison opening in 2010. Click here for more information on the Badger State Trail.
The Boxcar
Until recently, the boxcar was the workhorse of the freight train carrying most of the freight. Much of the history of rolling stock is the story of increasing specialization taking over roles originally played by the boxcar. Initially, even coal and grain were shipped by boxcar. Livestock was also transported in boxcars until the 1880's when the lack of ventilation resulted in unacceptable loses and the stock car was developed. Another innovation was the insulated car which took over the role of carrying frozen products. The insulated car itself was later replaced by the refrigerated car. Until the 1960's even automobiles were carried by boxcars. Recent years have seen the boxcar itself change as many are longer and higher than the standard boxcar. Because these high cubic capcity boxcars (or Hicubes) are more efficient they are replacing standard boxcars where possible. However, the biggest challenge to the boxcar today is the versatile container car which is rapidly becoming the primary mover of freight. The boxcar still lingers in the imagination as the car of choice for the hobo and more darkly in its role carrying Jews and other Nazi prisoners to concentration camps during World War II.
The Train Cars are on the track from approximately March 15 to November 15.
They are replaced by bison tubes for the winter.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Steven Johnston, Badger State Trail Manager of the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding