This is part of a series of three geocaches that highlight historic Jacksonville railways. The others are ‘Rails to Trails’ Multi-Cache (GC7P1P4) and ‘Tea Kettle Engine Locomotive’ (GC7P1PH).
The coordinates take you to a Geo-Tool on a popular, paved Rails to Trails pathway along seasonal Daisy Creek. The cache (at stream bank, opposite) holds a few small trade/trackable items. There are two waypoints listed for parking and trailhead options.
Steam engine locomotives ran on this route 1891-1925 between Jacksonville and Medford. The steam engine was one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Before steam power, many mills and factories were powered by water, wind, horse, or man. Water was a good source of power, but industry had to be located near a river. Both water and wind power could be unreliable as rivers could freeze during the winter, dry up during a drought and wind didn't always blow. Steam power allowed factories to be located anywhere with water storage. It provided reliable energy and could be used to power large machines like the locomotives that used to chug along the Rogue River Valley Railway.
Placed with the permission of the City of Jacksonville