Short story: This cache is an ammo can in the woods. A simple hike-n-grab cache hidden close to the trails edge. Do watch for woodland critters though, especially in warmer months. Enjoy.
Long story: I enjoy seeing remnants of history still present today and that is the focus of this geocache. While just an ammo can in the woods of what is now Pocahontas State Park, the berm before you was once part of an old railroad line that passed through here. The Clover Hill Railroad was chartered in 1841 to haul loads from the coal mines 8 miles west of here to Chester, where it could be transported to Petersburg, Richmond or to the James River for exporting elsewhere. It was a key source of coal for Tredegar Iron Works during the Civil War.
With new ownership in 1877, the newly renamed Brighthope Railway continued to haul fewer loads of local coal, but ultimately expanded the railway westward and began hauling agricultural products from Farmville, Powhatan and Cumberland. The railway changed ownership and names a few times until 1917 when the tracks were ultimately pulled up and sold to help with the WWI effort and opening up the old rail beds to be used as new roads for automobiles.
I find it intriguing to layer old maps on to modern maps to see what from history may still be visible today. Below is link to an old map with many landmarks some may recognize today (don't get lost in the map). Much of current day Beach Road and VA-10 are built upon the former railroad beds and a few depot buildings are still around (most noteably the Fendley Water Station, which is now the park office at the main entrance, but was once located at Beach Road). Several other railroad related sights can still be seen today, if you know where to look (Wiki search for Clover Hill Roadroad and Brighthope Railway will provide good clues).
1867 Map of 35 mile radius of Richmond VA | Library of Congress (loc.gov)
This cache is located within Pocahontas State Park and placed with permission of Park Management in accordance of Virginia DCR's Geocaching & Letterboxing Guidelines. Parking fees apply, day searching only, please CITO and Leave No Trace.
Current trail maps for Pocahontas State Park can be found here.