NOW and THEN Traditional Cache
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Geocaching and setting out new caches provides a perfect opportunity to pass along tidbits of local history. This cache site deals more with a railroad theme, more specifically about bridges.
Park at the end of Audubon Place to access this cache site. From there it’s a pretty easy walk with one short hill to get on the RR right of way. The container is a non-ammo box, medium size.
PLEASE,It is very important to replace the cache container just as it was found. THANKS
THE NOW
The “Steel Bridge” south of East Fork Road is the Gimlet Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge, which is a through truss. That simply means the traffic traveled “through” rather than over or under the structure. Built in 1917, it is one of reportedly ten Pegram truss bridges in existence of which seven are located in Idaho and two of those are here in the Wood River valley. I have located two of the remaining three, one in Santa Ana, CA and one in Cloud County, KS. The tenth will turn up sometime and I would bet there are more that have been “lost”, a product of misplaced interest I fear. If any of you cachers should hear of it or them, let me know.
THE THEN
This simple timber trestle was probably built in 1883 when the Oregon Short Line made its way up the Wood River valley. It may have been constructed just slightly up stream of the existing bridge as evidenced by remnants of an old abutment on the east bank. There are smaller examples of these trestles further down the valley. There is one that crosses over the Hiawatha canal across from Zinc Spur and one across from the south end of the airport, as well as others. Let’s make sure these don’t get lost!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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