Around 1870 the Central Pacific Railroad built the first depot in Modesto between H and I Streets, south of the current depot. It burned in the 1890's and was rebuilt in the same location. In 1884 Southern Pacific Railroad took over the CPRR. In 1914 the Chamber of Commerce petitioned the SPRR to build a new station, "better suited to the growing economic prosperity." The California Railroad Commission recommended the current site, Mission Revival Style architecture, and a maximum cost of $15,000. SPRR used standardized plans they had already developed to build the depot in 1915. The new depot opened by Janaury 1916.
Passenger service ended in 1971 when Amtrak consolidated passenger routes. SPRR continued to use the depot for offices and maintenance until 1989. The building was restored in 1993 as a bus terminal for local transit and Greyhound services. A 2023 restoration project is in the works to restore passenger rail service by the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE).
The cooridnates will take you to the plaque for the 1993 restoration project. Read the plaque to solve for the final coordinates:
N 37 38.3AB W 121 00.1CD
A = The number of letters in the fourth word on the second line.
B = The number of letters in the third word on the first line.
C = The number of trains that appear on the plaque.
D = The third digit of the year on the second line.
Happy geocaching and may the Force be with you.