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Altitude: m. ASL.
Region:
United States > Maryland
Cache type: Traditional
Size: Large
Status:
Ready for Search
Date hidden: 2015-04-04
Date created: 2020-03-01
Date published: 2020-03-04
Last modification: 2020-03-16 
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Description
EN
Today you have to look extra hard to find a trace of the railroad that once crossed here. This crossing was protected by flashing lights and crossing gates. The crossing gates here had neon-like lighted tubes along the arms. They blinked with the regular lights.
The Washington County Branch of the B&O Railroad was built from Weverton to Hagerstown Md. in 1867-68. Always a rural branch that did end in a city with many industries, the B&O entry into Hagerstown was once a nice operation with a yard and industries to be served. Not helping its cause was that there were 3 other railroads there that carried the bulk of Hagerstown’s business. The Western Maryland, the Cumberland Valley-Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Norfolk and Western survived in one form or another but with few industries left on the B&O branch which could also be reached by WM connections in Hagerstown, the rolling countryside line fell into disuse and was removed in stages between 1975-1978. Even recent attempts at a bike trail hit the NIMBY stonewall and were given up on. Only the County Commissioners, the village of Keedysville, and bike enthusiasts were in favor! Today, you can see the old right of way in the winter but it is super over grown in summer and you have to pull over and study to find it. Southbound from the cache is the village of Keedysville where there was a station, the sign of which is on display at the railroad museum in the Hagerstown City Park. Northbound, the right of way leads to Hagerstown.
The cache is an ammo box with log and plenty of room for TB’s and swag. Summertime vegetation gives this the 2.5 terrain rating but it can get a bit better in winter. It can be “sticky” at anytime however! Parking is safest on the right side headed toward Boonsboro. The shoulders are wide for great access but this is a super busy road, use caution. You shouldn't have much muggle traffic once on the mission.
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