Abandoned Railroads #40: Morehead and North Fork Traditional Cache
Abandoned Railroads #40: Morehead and North Fork
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Size: 
(micro)
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Since I have always been interested in railroads, I’ve decided to start a series of caches highlighting some of the physical features that still remain of railroads that no longer exist in the central KY area.
The Morehead and North Fork Railroad was incorporated in 1905 as a timber and coal hauler. It ran from a junction with the C&O at Morehead to Redwine in Morgan County. It was standard gauge and built to very good standards for its time. The company headquarters and shops were at Clearfield, as well as a large sawmill and many of the buildings still exist, but they are on private property. At Redwine, coal and lumber was also received from the Roper-Reese Lumber Company and later the Lenox Railroad. The line was very profitable during the early years of operation and had a fairly large list of equipment. The timber played out and the sawmill closed in 1922. A flood in 1927 did a lot of damage, the Lenox Railroad closed, and improving roads also caused a loss of business. In 1933, the line was cut back to 4 miles long and operated as a shortline for many years serving a refractory plant in Clearfield. The line was famous among railfans for operating steam engines into the 60’s, long after the larger railroads had gone to diesels and many fine pictures exist of the line during this time. The abandonment of the C&O line in the late 80’s landlocked the line, but there is still some equipment present, including a steam engine which is kept in the engine house. The current owners have done some restoration work and have hosted some public events at times, but I don’t know how to access any more information about the line. The line had 3 tunnels and Twin Tunnel is the only one that still exists. There are actually 2 tunnels here, one for the railroad and one for the river. Route 711 follows the roadbed closely at this point. For those of you doing the Kentucky County Challenge, this is in Morgan County. Coming from Wrigley, there is a wide pull-off on the left side of the road, but you can park closer if it is dry. The road is not busy. The cache is a preform tube with a log only, bring your own pencil.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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