The Blue Comet: Little Walt Traditional Cache

It was a rainy Saturday afternoon on August 19, 1939.  Twelve year old Walter Brower (known as "Little Walt"  around town) and his friend, Harold Stevenson Jr. were hanging out at the Chatsworth Station as they always did..  Station master John L. Etheridge  informed them that the BLUE COMET was running a little late because of the heavy rains and that the trains speed was cut from 70 mph to 35 mph.  Being anxious to see the train pass the station once again,  both boys ran out to look west down the track to view a block signal located at the curve.  If it was green,  the train wasn't near yet. If red, the Comet was in the block. When they look ...It was RED, meaning the train would pass in a few minutes. They waited and waited and waited. Still no train. Then  Etheridge stepped out and told them that he just received a wire and was told the the BLUE COMET had "left the tracks". ( 152 feet east of milepost 86 the track roadbed had washed out.) Without thinking of the danger, both boys ran down the tracks passed this very spot to milepost 86 and were the first at the derailment scene.    They waded through waist deep water at the scene (14.81 inches of rain fell that day) to help some passengers exit the train. On that day the boys became local heros! Harold has since passed on but, Walter in his 80's, is alive and well and is a close friend. You will cross another historic location to get to the cache..just as Little Walt did to get the wreck. The cache (located on the curve) is a Lock N Lock container with a photo of Little Walt on the lid. On the bottom is a photo of the "Biela" in a derailed position. This cache is dedicated to both  boys who became part of "Blue Comet" history that day.  Good Luck! FTF packet is included..along with a Collectable "Lucky Charms" Hot Wheels car.