This mystery cache celebrates the abundant labor history of Philadelphia. Its 4 stages will bring you around the former site of the Baldwin Locomotive Works—an industrial giant, both literally and figuratively—in the Spring Garden neighborhood of Center City. The walk is approximately 0.75 miles. The cache is NOT at the posted coordinates.
History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works
Founded by Matthias Baldwin in 1831, the eponymously named Baldwin Locomotive Works occupied 39 buildings across 12 blocks in Philadelphia until its relocation to nearby Eddystone in 1928 and its cease of production in 1956. Having built more than 70,000 locomotives, the vast majority of them steam-powered, the firm emerged as the industry’s leading producer both nationally and globally. It achieved similar fame for its domestic workforce of nearly 20,000 and its worldwide exportation of locomotives for commercial as well as military purposes. The firm witnessed a decline—and eventually its demise—as demand for steam-powered locomotives approached zero, diesel-powered locomotives instead became the industry standard, and internal efforts to diversify production occurred far too slowly. Should you wish to learn more about the firm, you can consult The Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1831-1915: A Study in American Industrial Practice by historian John K. Brown.
Stage 1
The posted coordinates will bring you to stage 1. Had you visited this site on a weekday morning in 1837, you would have observed some 300 men entering the sprawling factory of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, a construction project that cost $200,000 then (nearly $5,000,000 today) and achieved a scale of industrial production with few precedents in the United States. Following a series of economic depressions in the 1890s, the factory experienced a record-breaking demand for locomotives and notably employed more than 18,500 men who labored in 2 shifts over the full 24 hours in a day.
Instructions:
When facing west at these coordinates, you will see the edifice of a vital institution in modern-day Philadelphia. You will need to identify the numeric component of its street address—let us call this ABC.
To find stage 2, add [(2*A)2 + 9*B + (9*A / B) - C] to the North coordinate and add [3*A + (4*B)2 + (4*A / B) + C] to the West coordinate. Apply this offset to the POSTED coordinates (stage 1).
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Stage 2
The above calculated coordinates will bring you to stage 2. Had you visited this site in March of 1860, you would have beheld an intense strike by skilled workers in the erecting shop, approximately 170 men (one-third of the total force at that time) secretly organized by the Machinists and Blacksmiths International Union. Dismayed by this threat to production, management at the Baldwin Locomotive Works soon adamantly declared that the point of contention—overtime wages—was non-negotiable, refused to rehire nearly all the strikers, and thereby resisted union activity for more than 50 years.
Instructions:
When facing south at these coordinates, you will see one of several buildings constituting the main campus of the largest institution of higher education in Philadelphia (no, it is neither Penn nor Temple). You will need to identify the year in which its West Building was constructed—let us call this DEFG.
To find stage 3, subtract [(D + E) x F - (3*G)2 + 2*F] from the North coordinate and add [2*E x (F + G) + D2 + (E / 3)] to the West coordinate. Apply this offset to the CALCULATED coordinates (stage 2).
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Stage 3
The above calculated coordinates will bring you to stage 3. In addition to the unmatched success of his firm, founder Matthias Baldwin acquired a status of local renown on the basis of his influential role in the creation of the Franklin Institute, his philanthropic commitment to the Presbyterian Church, and his public support for the abolition of slavery. By the time of his death in 1866, he ranked among the most distinguished and affluent residents of Philadelphia with top politicians, industrial leaders, and employees of the Baldwin Locomotive Works attending his funeral in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Surprisingly, though, his firm’s greatest triumphs still lay ahead.
Instructions:
At these coordinates, you will find a blue sign describing the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Using the information available to you, you will need to identify the number of acres that its buildings formerly covered (and that you have now partially walked)—let us call this HI.
To find stage 4, walk 11 x (HI) feet with a bearing of 160º. Simply input HI, do not multiply its two components.
Stage 4
Instructions:
You are looking for a small camoed bison tube (necessarily BYOP). This is a popular outdoors leisure space, so please respect its posted hours of 6 AM to 1 AM and use appropriate stealth. The FTF prize consists of bragging rights since the container cannot accommodate any trade items. Feel free to take and post photos of yourself with the container but NOT of the preceding stages.
UPDATE (9/2/14): The formulas in stages 1, 2, and 3 have been modified slightly to avoid some potential confusion in calculation. Please note all symbols [( or ), +, -, x or *, and /] carefully.
UPDATE (3/12/15): The formula and bearing in stage 3 have been modified to accommodate structural changes at GZ that render the original hiding place inaccessible. Sorry for any inconvenience. Feel free to contact us should you need any help.
UPDATE (5/31/16): Due to recent muggling incidents, we have slightly changed the hiding method for the container at stage 4. Please make every effort to replace as found.
UPDATE (5/16/17): Due to continued muggling, the container was relocated for stage 4. Please use the new formula in stage 3.