About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breathtaking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveler, but anyone else can go and find it, too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Website.
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights the railways of NW Oregon.
About Quatama MAX Station
Welcome to Quatama. The MAX Blue Line operates on the old Oregon Electric Railway line. The Oregon Electric (OE) interurban ran from Forest Grove to Portland. MAX uses the line between Beaverton and Hillsboro. This is also close to the location where Oregon Electric had its stop, called Quatama. Sadly, I have not found an image of the old OE station. Why Quatama? I have not found out the reason.
However, I did find other information about Quatama. Quatama Road was originally named Hunky Town Road, which was settled by immigrants from Hungary who worked at the Oregon Nursery Company (Orenco).
Quatama is one of the few stops on MAX without a bus stop nearby. It has a large Park-n-Ride Lot and many apartments surrounding it, which did not exist before the MAX station opened in 1998. When the station first opened, it was called Quatama/NW205th Ave. In 2017, Hillsboro renamed 205th Ave by the station to John Olson Ave, so TriMet dropped the 205th name of the station. However, the railroad crossing signal box is still labeled 205th Ave.
Note: My work is down the street, I often hangout here at lunchtime.