The Katy branch we know from central Missouri to St. Louis originally was designated the Missouri, Kansas & Eastern Railroad in the late 1890s. Construction between New Franklin and Machens was deliberately fast paced and brought about a poorly engineered route. The convenience of a level surface in the Missouri Rivers' floodplain resulted in frequent flooding and erosion for decades. When diesel-electric locomotives were introduced in the mid-twentieth century, they were unable to travel the water-logged line forcing the parent company to continue using steam engines.
On October 5, 1986, significant portions of this rail washed out. Financial difficulties and the cost of repairing such a high-maintenance route made the decision clear. In 1987, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (shortened to "Katy" based on its stock designation) officially abandoned the river line. Only one year later the state of Missouri acquired the property as a "rail bank". This allowed not only the company to use the land in the future but the state to convert it to a multi-use trail in the meantime.
Stretching from Clinton to Machens, Missouri, the Katy Trail became one of the most impressive rails-to-trails conversions in the country. Two hundred and thirty seven miles of railroad were eventually converted to crushed limestone suitable for hiking and bicycling. The first section opened on April 28, 1990 between Rocheport and McBaine. This portion will be the focus of the Wherigo as a celebration of the Katy Trail's twenty-fifth anniversary.
Your mission is to traverse the distance between Rocheport and McBaine either by foot or bicycle. When you reach the parking area for either town (or Huntsdale if you've been camping), activate the Wherigo cartridge and follow the instructions. Please keep the Wherigo app active as it will track your progress and highlight landmarks and local notables along the trail. When you reach your destination, your progress will be checked and the location of the geocache unveiled.
Permission to place this geocache was provided by Missouri State Parks Superintendent Jim Gast.