A Train ~ MTA Multicache Series Multi-Cache

A Train - 8TH AV EXPRESS

Welcome to another New York City Subway Cache.

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Following the A train, Far Rockaway to Inwood, end to end, stopping at 4 stops in between, 6 stops altogether. 

Waypoints/clues will be at the following stops -

• Far Rockaway-Mott Ave {A} - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• Beach 60th Street {A} - NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• West 4th Street Washington Square {A/B/C/D/E/F/M} - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• 125th Street {A/B/C/D}  - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• 190th Street {A} - NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
• Inwood 207th Street {A} - WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

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Before we head off, please remember to check mta.info for service changes and status. (Always check when you're riding the NYC subway, you never know when it will decide to mess up)

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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 4-6 stops (unless the route is shorter than 5 stops). At each stop that is listed here in the description (Far Rockaway, Beach 60th, West 4th, 125th, 190th and Inwood 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 (answer choice 1, 2, or 3, based on the answer you chose) and remember it or write it down. There may be 4 answers to certain questions.

At the final stop, add up all the numbers. 3-5 sets of coordinates will be given. Add the numbers from each answered choice. 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. 

Please note taking the train is not needed but is encouraged because this multicache series is about the NYC subway, and attempts to show how each train line has shaped a part of the city in its own way. 

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Operating on the third busiest line in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and traveling the longest distance out of any train line in New York, the A train travels through a large portion of the city from top to bottom, moving and commuting people on opposite sides of the city on one train. Although known for its low satisfaction rate, old and dim lit trains, delays, and disruptions, it is one of the most important train lines in the city because of the distance it covers, the places it goes, and the 600,000 people that depend on the line daily. The A train alone is responsible for connecting the entirety of the Rockaways to the rest of the city. Originally in the IND company, beginning service in 1932, the A train ran from the north to the south of Manhattan. It wasn’t until the 1950s when the line was extended to Lefferts Blvd and the Rockaways. For 70 years, it has connected completely opposite sides of the city, exposing neighborhoods to different cultures that came from other parts of the city.

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A few extra notes (PLEASE READ OVER) -

• The cache is NOT located at the posted coordinates on the main map; 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 between a 6 - 12 minute walk from Inwood 207th Street Station.
• Between each waypoint in the description, please read which trains you may take (if you are using the train).
• Please use https://new.mta.info/alerts to avoid any problems if using the subway to navigate through this cache.

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END OF INTRODUCTION/BEGINNING OF CACHE CLUES

Far Rockaway Mott Avenue

The first clue (Far Rockaway Mott Avenue) is located at the posted coordinates. 

Welcome to Far Rockaway. Originally inhabited by the Lenape people, then colonized by the Dutch, then English, it was a useful fishing and farming village. Its beaches attracted lots of New Yorkers and tourists in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in the 1880s when the Long Island Railroad established a new train line taking people to the Rockaways, meaning people didn’t have to rely on a horse and carriage or horseback to get them there. Far Rockaway and the surrounding areas also became a seaplane hub in the early 20th century, after the first seaplane flight in the United States took place in Jamaica Bay. After the Great New England Hurricane in 1938 devastated the neighborhood, there were several revitalization projects in the area, yet by the 1960s, post-war, the neighborhood began a steep decline, with economic struggles and the closure of the Rockaway Beach train line. The neighborhood still remains diverse in its structure, with residential, commercial and recreational areas. There are strong community efforts to enhance the neighborhood’s amenities and make it a popular place to live and visit once more.

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

40.6060061, -73.7537872

QUESTION

Looking at the commercial building in front of you, how many steps are there at the main entrance to the building in front of you (include the middle and top landings as one step, but not the bottom landing)?

1. 8
2. 10
3. 11

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, Beach 60th Street.

Take the next Brooklyn bound A train 4 stops.

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Beach 60th Street

You’re in the neighborhood of Arverne, a smaller neighborhood in the Rockaways that was originally a resort area. With its close proximity to one of the best-rated beaches in the city, although economically declined with the other Rockaway neighborhoods starting in the 1960s, its close proximity to one of the best beaches in the city still attracts people to visit the area for the beach. To get the clue, you’ll be making your way out onto the beach, and to the rocks by the water.

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

40.5876763, -73.7888078

QUESTION

You will see a sign on the rocks by the water that says “Keep Off _____ No Diving”. What is the missing word, and what is the color of the sign? The correct answer will have both the correct word and color.

1. Word: Rocks/Color: Red
2. Word: Rocks/Color: White
3. Word: Jetty/Color: Red
4. Word: Jetty/Color: White

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, West 4th Street.

Take the next Brooklyn bound A train through Brooklyn and into Manhattan.

The train ride between these two stops is about one hour, so feel free to do this cache over the course of more than one day. The C Train Subway Cache has 3 waypoints in Brooklyn along this same line if you would prefer to do a subway cache with waypoints in Brooklyn.

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West 4th Street Washington Square

Welcome to Washington Square. The square is filled with several monuments commemorating different people and groups. It also has lots of greenery and benches, which make it a great place to visit or have a picnic. You’ll be diverging from the square a bit to go a few blocks over to the Stonewall Inn, gay bar that is now a National Historic Landmark after the police riot there in 1969, beginning the gay rights movement and pride. Pride around the world all started from the Stonewall riots. [Further history on the Stonewall Inn]

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

40.7337908, -74.0021491

QUESTION

What is the last word in the block of text on the plaque in front of you?

1. Equality
2. Inn
3. Rights

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

Take the next Inwood 207th St bound A train or Bronx bound D train for the fastest travel time.

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125th Street

Welcome to Harlem. It’s a little hard to summarize in a few sentences, but I’ll do my best. A historic neighborhood with a very rich history, it became a major center of African American culture in the 20th century. During the Harlem Renaissance, it had well-known contributions to literature, music and art, birthing both Jazz and Blues, and the beginning of drag. Harlem had one of the highest contributions out of any other neighborhood to the city’s art and culture. You will be making your way to the Apollo Theater. The Theater, built in 1913, was known for its variety shows in its early years, and featuring famous artists such as Bill Cosby, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and several more. By the 1960s, drug and crime rates rose in Harlem, causing the closing of the theater. It was purchased in the 1980s and reopened. It was made a New York City landmark, and continues to feature diverse performances. 

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

40.8098719, -73.9502245

On the ground, you should see several different plaques with names on them in a grid-like setup. Which name is directly below Billy Holiday?

1. Aretha Franklin
2. Stevie Wonder
3. Little Richard

Please make your way to the next station waypoint, 190th Street.

Take the next Inwood 207th St bound A train 5 stops (if running normal service).

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190th Street

Welcome to Fort George. This was originally a fort constructed by the British in the Revolutionary War due to its high elevation and good views of the river, helping their defense. The fort was eventually demolished which paved the way for residential construction to begin. Fort George is known for its greenery, beautiful residential streets, hilly areas, close proximity to parks and its great view of the Hudson River. The neighborhood is also home to the Cloisters Museum, focusing on Medieval art. It is a highly recommended museum for everyone.

You’ll be making your way to a plaque dedicated to Margaret Cochran Corbin. She was the first woman to fight in the Revolutionary War after her husband was killed and she took his place. She is buried at West Point.

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

40.8594611, -73.9337195

What is the last word written on the plaque (the last word on the entire plaque, not just the body of text)?

1. 1800
2. Commerce
3. 1982

Please make your way to the next and final station waypoint, Inwood 207th Street.

Take the next Inwood 207th St bound A train 2 stops. Get off at the last stop.

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Inwood 207th Street

Welcome to Inwood. Inwood was originally where Fort Washington was built on the highest point in Manhattan. The British eventually captured the fort, leading to British occupation of New York. In the 19th and 20th century, the construction of the A and 1 trains made the area a lot more accessible and attracted more people to the area, eventually removing the label of a rural retreat for the wealthy since it could be accessed a lot faster from the city. Inwood is a highly unique place in Manhattan, with Inwood Hill Park which is one of the last naturally forested areas in Manhattan. The neighborhood feels like the complete opposite of what one would think of when thinking of Manhattan. Immigration brought Irish, Jewish, Dominican and other ethnic groups to the area. Northern Manhattan (Fort Washington, Inwood, etc) has the most amount of Spanish spoken throughout the entire city along with Bushwick. 

Please take this time to add up your answers.

All possible locations will be located between a 4-12 minute walk from Inwood 207th Street Station.

If you got 8, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8724819, -73.9214736

If you got 9, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8699509, -73.9224566

If you got 10, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8706555, -73.9273050

If you got 11, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8746041, -73.9191015

If you got 12, proceed to the following coordinates: 40.8753799, -73.9209100

Happy caching!

Make sure to check out my other subway multicaches around the city.