About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. Its a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found at the SideTracked Website
This cache also qualifies for the Disappearing RR Blues bonus cache. This series highlights railways of NW Oregon
About Oregon Electric Railway Pirtle SubStation
NOTE: Please do not walk down to the substation, as the only access is via an ACTIVE Railroad, and is considered trespassing.
The Oregon Electric Railway operated premium Electric Interurban service between Portland and Eugene. The section south of Salem opened in 1912. Being an electric railway, substations were required along the line to provide power to the overhead wires over the tracks. Passenger service ended in the early 1930's. Electric freight service sometime later. However the line is in use today for diesel freights. It is currently operated by the Portland and Western Railroad.
There is no longer any electrical equipment in the substation and is filled with spray paint cans and trash. However the structure is very much in tact, and the letters O and E are still visible towards the roof line. The substation is not in view from the cache site due to 150Ft rule from Railroads. The Railroad crossing is about 500 Ft from the cache location. From the cache site the substation is on the east side of the railroad tracks about 100 yards south from the Pirtle Road RR crossing. They recently cleared a grove of tress that makes the substation very visible. I do not condone access the substation. Trains can come from any direction at any time, and the substation is on railroad property.