5 Train ~ MTA Multicache Series ~ #11 Multi-Cache

 5 TRAIN - LEXINGTON AVENUE EXPRESS

Welcome to another New York City Subway Cache.

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Following the 5 Express Train (Lexington Avenue Express), Bowling Green to Eastchester Dyre Avenue, end to end, stopping at 4 stops in between, 6 stops altogether. 

Calling at the following stops -

• Bowling Green {4/5} - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• Grand Central 42nd Street {4/5/6/7/S/MNR) - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• 125th Street {4/5/6/MNR} - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• 174th Street {2/5} - NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• Pelham Parkway Dyre Avenue {5} - NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• Eastchester Dyre Avenue {5) - NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

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Before we head off, please remember to check mta.info for service changes and status. (Let's try not to get stuck somewhere 10 miles from your house with no trains coming, that would kinda suck - hi tourists looking at you as well)

Please also remember to follow safety requirements and regulations addressing the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. Remember to stay safe. Public Transportation can be risky during a pandemic. Health and Safety Guidelines | The Official Guide to New York City (nycgo.com) (YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A FACE COVERING ON THE TRAIN AT ALL TIMES)

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A bit of information before we begin - 

Every cache in this series follows ONE TRAIN LINE, from the start to the end, stopping at between 4-6 stops (unless the route is shorter than 5 stops). At each stop that is listed here in the description (Bowling Green, Grand Central, 125h Street, 174th Street, Pelham Parkway-Dyre Avenue and Eastchester Dyre Avenue in this scenario), you'll need to hop off the train and make your way to the coordinates given. When you reach the coordinates, a question will be given. Around the coordinates, you should be able to find the answer. 

The answers are multiple-choice. On each multiple-choice answer, there will be a number. For example -

 1. ()

2. ()

3. ()

Take the number and remember it.

At the final stop, add up all the numbers. 3-5 sets of coordinates will be given. Add the numbers from each answered choice up. At the bottom of this description, it'll say "If you have (), go to (coordinates), if you have (), go to (coordinates), etc". The final coordinates will lead to the cache.

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A bit of explanation why I began this cache series; since I was just a toddler, I’ve been fascinated with trains, and specifically the MTA. I’d stare looking at the map for hours understanding all the lines, stations, transfers, train models, etc. Because of the long amounts of time I would spend self-learning about the MTA and trains throughout the world, I’d say I’m a train fanatic. 

A few years ago, I discovered Geocaching and found it exciting to go look for caches literally anywhere. I found it fun and exciting. As I discovered premium subscription benefits, I learned about multicaches. A specific multicache series I went to go do was on the revolutionary war. You’d follow the paths they took and it was really intriguing. This got me thinking. It would truly be possible to make something like this (a multicache series) from the subway lines. I planned all the information and began right away. The first couple caches were very random. They had no real meaning to them except for just riding the train, getting off, finding the answer to a question, getting back on, and continuing. The way of completing these caches has always stayed the same, but after a few lines, I realized my first few subway caches were- let’s just say they were really unfortunate. Let’s take the F train as an example, my first cache. You travelled from Coney Island to Jamaica in outer Queens for not that much. There was no meaning to the cache if you didn’t enjoy riding the subway.

This inspired me to go further. To have a meaning to this multicache series. After thinking for a while, I was able to connect subway lines to people. Everyone has their own interests. This cache prior to realizing this was just about one interest: riding the train. I realized that train lines also have their own interests, especially in a very diverse city. They weave along through the different neighborhoods connecting different things. So, I put people’s interests and train lines together to realize how people would find this cache series very enjoyable. Each cache would have different interests. Let’s take the 3 train as an example. If someone’s into African American history in the city, such as ancient redlining laws or human migration patterns, the 3 train would be a very interesting journey for them. From East New York/Brownsville neighborhoods to Harlem. I realized every train line had a different interest/topic as it connects through the neighborhoods which is how I construct my caches to this day. 

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The 5 train began back in 1904. The line ran from E 180th Street to Eastchester Dyre Avenue. To this day, stations are still much farther apart on this route than normal NYC subway stations and the stations look more like commuter train stations. This is because the tracks and stations were already constructed by a Northeast USA railway company named New York, Westchester and Boston Railway. The railway was replaced by the MTA, on the route now known as the 5 train. 

In the 1940s, the IRT already had many trains in the Bronx and not enough in Brooklyn nor Lower Manhattan. The Eastchester branch on the 5 train wasn’t too populated and the IRT stopped servicing the Eastchester Branch Stations (Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Gun Hill Road, Baychester Avenue, Dyre Avenue). 5 trains completely changed route, and served as a Manhattan and Brooklyn service with a few stops in the Bronx. The trains went from E 180th Street to New Lots Avenue and on Sundays stopped short at Crown Heights Utica Avenue.

In the 1960’s, the Eastchester community had grown larger and had no public transportation at all. It’d be a long walk to the closest station on the White Plains Road branch on the 2 train to Wakefield. The communities around the area needed public transportation. During this time in the 1960s, the MTA was quite broke and had not enough money to supply another full route from the outskirts of Brooklyn to North Bronx. Instead, they ran a shuttle train from Dyre Avenue to E 180th Street which is still around today. Due to an even higher increase in the Eastchester community, 5 trains began running from Brooklyn to Eastchester to get people to work and into Manhattan more efficiently. 

5 trains were then extended to Nereid Avenue to run with the 2 trains as they switched routes in Brooklyn and Bronx. 2 and 5 trains are practically the same thing. 

To this day, the 5 train is a limited service train, yet is a very important line to New York running a far distance. Behind the A train, the 2 and 5 trains go through the most neighborhoods along the route. Is the 5 train reliable? Not really- no, not at all. But it still is a VERY diverse train. We’ll be stopping at some of the most important stops along the line to share important cultural information. From Flatlands to Harlem to Eastchester, the 5 train is a very diverse train and route that many people need.

A few extra notes (PLEASE READ OVER) -

• The cache is NOT located at the posted coordinates on the main map; please solve the puzzle throughout the city at the designated stops we tell you to get off at in this description
• All cache coordinates are located a 10 - 20 minute walk from Dyre Avenue Station
• If 5 trains aren’t running, take a free shuttle bus at E 180th Street or take the 2 train to 233rd Street
• The cache will not begin at the official 5 train Brooklyn termination, Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn College as 5 trains only run to Brooklyn on weekdays, terminating at Bowling Green the rest of the time
• Between each waypoint in the description, please read which trains you may take

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Bowling Green {WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

Welcome to Bowling Green Station on the 4/5 trains. At certain stations throughout the cache, the connection target will be on important people who have shaped America’s history. These are people who we need to remember as they are part of what this country is today. 

At Bowling Green station, the topic will be about the Native Americans. Before Europeans came to America, Native American tribes were here, and had been here for a long time. When the Europeans arrived by boat, they took over the land known as New York City today. Cruel acts happened between Europeans and Native Americans, such as Europeans stealing land or even murdering Native Americans. Even after all of that, Native Americans were known as “savages” to the Europeans.

The Native American tribes greatly helped shape the country’s agriculture. The reason corn is a popular meal at the table today is because of the Native Americans. They also helped shape what our democracy is today. In the late 1700s and early/mid 1800s, this country was truly a mess. Many colonists observed the Native Americans, one of the ways being how the Iroquois Confederacy worked. They took ideas from the Iroquois tribe to enhance US democracy. 

Proceed to the following coordinates to answer the question, and solve step 1/6 of the puzzle -

40.7044725, -74.0139062

QUESTION

Find the gray plaque that starts with “NMAI is not just about the past”. Fill in the blank: It is about the ______

1. living
2. people
3. fighting

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Please make your way to the next station waypoint, Grand Central 42nd Street.

Take either an Uptown/Bronx bound 4 or 5 train at Bowling Green.

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Grand Central 42nd Street {WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

Welcome to Grand Central Terminal. This station was a gigantic part in creating the landmarks law, which shaped a lot of the late 20th and present 21st century. The person behind this was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and without her, Grand Central Terminal would probably not be standing right now. 

First of all, who is Jacqeline Onassis? She was John F. Kennedy’s wife, the 35th president of the United States. She was a strong supporter of Women Rights, and an important activist in the 1970s.

In the 1960s, Penn Station was demolished to make room for Madison Square Gardens (MSG). The remainder of Penn Station was moved to the basement below MSG where most of it still is. It’s a dim, low-ceiling, terrible place for a station. This same exact thing was going to happen to Grand Central Terminal in 1975, as office space was needed and some people didn’t think Grand Central needed this much room. At this time, Jacqueline Kennedy stepped in and led the fight for a landmark law, meaning Grand Central could not legally be demolished. Because of Jacqueline Kennedy, the landmark movement was implemented, and Grand Central could not be destroyed. 

This got more buildings to become landmarked around the country, and many cities/counties/towns created a department for landmarks.

Proceed to the following coordinates to answer the question, and solve step 2/6 of the puzzle -

40.7521428, -73.9775643

QUESTION

You should see a plaque in front or around where the coordinates take you that has the heading of “JAQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS AND GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL”. What is the last word at the bottom of the first paragraph? (THE PLAQUE IS IN THE BUILDING)

1. world
2. country
3. people

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, 125th Street.

Take either an Uptown/Bronx bound 4, 5 or 6 train at Bowling Green. (6 train runs LOCAL on normal service; 4/5 is recommended)

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125th Street {WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

For this waypoint, you’ll be making your way to a park named after Marcus Garvey.

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican activist, journalist and much more. He was the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) founded in 1914. The UNIA is a community of black nationalists mainly in mostly African American populated neighborhoods in the USA. This really took place once he moved to Harlem. 

Proceed to the following coordinates to answer the question, and solve step 3/6 of the puzzle - 

40.8035166, -73.9443944

QUESTION

You should be standing on a platform-like area with a view looking over 120th St. and 5th Ave. Having your back to the street, how many steps are going UP?

1. 22
2. 16
3. 14

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, 174th Street.

Take an Uptown/Bronx bound 5 train at 125th Street. DO NOT TAKE THE 4 OR 6 TRAINS. (Metro North is available at Harlem 125th Street station, a 1 block away from the 4/5/6. You can take that to Tremont Station as another option)

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174th Street {NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

For this waypoint, you’ll be taking a short walk to Crotona Park. Boston Road should be the easiest way to get there. The park was named after a Greek colony named Croton. The name is recognizable from the Town of Croton or Croton Harmon in Upstate NY. The park has been around since 1888, and since then it’s been a spectacular park, including a large pond with tons of wildlife, and tons of green space. Along with St. Mary’s Park in Southeast Bronx, it’s an amazing small park in the Bronx.

Proceed to the following coordinates to answer the question, and solve step 4/6 of the puzzle - 

40.8382401, -73.8934884

QUESTION

You should be standing in front of a building by Indian Pond. On the side of the building facing the pond, what is the aquatic sea animal in the brick?

1. Dolphin
2. Salmon
3. Seahorse

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, Pelham Parkway.

Take a Dyre Avenue bound 5 train at 174th Street. (DO NOT TAKE AN UPTOWN 2 TRAIN UNLESS ITS LAST STOP IS DYRE AVENUE)

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Pelham Park {NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

You’ll be making your way to a monument with 5 different plaques. Each plaque commemorates a war with a quote. Before or after solving the question, take a look at each of the plaques.

Please proceed to the following coordinates to answer the question, and complete step 5/6 of the puzzle.

40.8578681, -73.8562989

QUESTION

Who is quoted on the first of 5 wars that took place?

1. George M. Cohan
2. Malcom X (Malcom Little)
3. Lyndon B. Johnson

Please make your way to the next and final station waypoint, Dyre Avenue.

Take a Dyre Avenue bound 5 train at Pelham Parkway.

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EASTCHESTER - DYRE AVENUE {NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE}

Welcome to the end of the line on the 5 train. Please take this time to add up your answers.

All possible locations will be located between a 10-25 minute walk from Dyre Avenue Station

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If you got 7, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.892593, -73.822543

If you got 8, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8931823, -73.8222909

If you got 9, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8876100, -73.8360234

If you got 10, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.893355, -73.821577

If you got 11, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.891272, -73.818396

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Happy caching!

Make sure to check out my other New York City subway caches located around last stops throughout the city.