This multi stage cache is a replacement for GC4BKKP, which had serious muggle issues. The two stage cache begins at the former Cheseapeke & Ohio Railroad Greenville Depot. To locate the second stage, solve the field puzzle below using information found at and near the posted coordinates. The grade is now part of the Fred Meijer Heritage Trail and the Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail. The parking and access point for the trail is Jackson's Landing.
"Photo courtesy of Michigan Railroad History (RRHX), Alan Loftis collection."
Pere Marquette depot, Greenville
Greenville's First Railroad:
The first rail line though Greenville was started by the Ionia and Lansing Railroad and completed by the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad. The line connected Greenville with Ionia in 1870 and was completed to Howard City in 1870-71. The DL&LM was reorganized in 1876 as the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad. The DL&N was again reorganized in 1897 as the Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad. In 1899 the DGR&W was purchased by the new Pere Marquette Railroad.
In 1900, the PM purchased the Grand Rapids, Belding and Saginaw Railroad, which, in 1899, connected Lowell with Belding. In 1901,the PM built a connection between Greenville and Stanton. This line became part of the Grand Rapids to Saginaw Main Line. Heavy trains regularly traveled this line, which shortened the distance substantially over traveling from Ionia to Howard City and then east. The original Ionia to Howard City line became redundant and was abandoned in 1942 and 1943. The Cheseapeke and Ohio Railroad had gained control of the PM in 1929 and merged it into the C&O in 1947. The C&O operated the Saginaw Division until 1987 when the railroad was merged into CSX Transportation. CSX was not interested in the Saginaw Division and sold it to the Mid Michigan Railroad.
The portion between Greenville and Edmore was abandoned (and east to Alma was abandoned in and after 1988 and has become the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail. The portion from Elmdale (south of Lowell) to Greenville was operated by the Mid-Michigan which used the Greenville depot as its headquarters. With the closing of the Frigidaire plant in Greenville, the Mid-Michigan abandoned the line between Greenville and Elmdale in 2007. The Lowell to Greenville segment is in the process of being improved as the Fred Meijer Flat River Valley Rail Trail.
"Standard Atlas of Montcalm County, Michigan, G.A. Ogle & Co., 1921, UofM Digital Library"
Greenville, 1921 plat. PM depot is in blue, TS&M in green.
In addition to the depot, still standing, is the engine house, the rectangular building between the street and the trail, two block to the north. Additional photos of Greenville can be seen on the RRHX site below.
Cache:
The cache is a two stage field puzzle at and near the posted coordinates which are at the former depot building. The Depot has had additions on both the north and south end over the years since the railroad was abandoned. To locate stage 2, use information found at the former depot building, to answer the questions below.
- N 43 10.ABC W 085 14.DEF
- A = The bay window on the east side of the depot is where the station master's desk was so he could see up and down the line. Each window is covered with a sheet of plywood. How many windows faced east in the bay?
- B = At the posted coordinates is a sign with symbols on it. What do the symbols mean? Count the number of letters in that meaning?
- C = On the opposite side of the trail south of the posted coordinates is a green sign with information on it. How many complete words are on that sign?
- D = Subtract two from the number of vowels on that green sign .
- E = On each end of the depot is an identical sign hanging from the roof. How many letters are on first word of each sign.
- F = South of the posted coordinates are three yellow posts that form a barrier. Next to those is a wooden post. Add one to the number of letters on the north side of that wooden post.
- PLEASE DO NOT POST PHOTOS WITH YOUR LOG THAT WILL INCLUDE ANY OF THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS
- Check your solution
Sources:
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