Sunken Train between Princeton and Green Lake – Wisconsin Geocaching Association

This topic has 18 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 1 month ago by gkrone.

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12/11/2010 at 5:14 pm #1731214
huffinpuffin2
Participant
Saw a story in the morning paper about the legend of a locomotive that sank in a swamp somewhere between Princeton and Green Lake. This seems like an unusual bit of history/legend that some of the folks on this forum would have knowledge of, or could use their resources to get to the bottom of. It also sounds like a fascinating tale to form the basis of a geocache in that area.

Can anyone shed light on this train of thought?

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Excerpt from the Appleton Post Crescent:

Tom Richards column: Sunken train story might be off-track

The railroad right of way was all laid out, set for the rails to be laid. In fact, the railroad was fit to be tied. All aboard. â€¦

Q: Recently, someone posted on a website that there’s a legend about a locomotive sinking into a marsh on a rail line that was being built many years ago between Princeton and Green Lake. The locomotive was never recovered. Can you find any information on this or is someone on the wrong track (if you follow my train of thought).

K.K., Grand Chute

A: I’m not prepared to say this did or did not happen, but neither is anyone else I could find. Searches of the Web turned up nothing of interest to our question. I talked to people in both Princeton and Green Lake, to no avail, other than the guy in Princeton, who said, “I have heard that.” I’d be happy to pursue any ideas any of you might have. In any case, it’s a good story.

Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101211/APC06/12110333/Tom-Richards-column-Sunken-train-story-might-be-off-track#ixzz17p8Lq9tp

“Drivin’ that train…………….”
12/11/2010 at 5:22 pm #1940128
Trekkin and Birdin
Participant
I’m still trying to track down a story I heard on late night talk radio when I was in college about a ghost steam packet seen on the full moon under the camden bridge in Minneapolis. Good luck. I’ve run out of resources. I even contacted the ghost buster guys and they’d never heard it. Talked directly with a storyteller I know who is also a ghost hunter. I actually thought *he* might have been the caller. Nope. Posted a request to the area newspaper. Local person there polled the folks at the senior center. You name it, I’ve tried it. I’m about ready to just “fill in the details” from my own and my dad’s shaky memory banks. Once I do and tell it somwhere, I’m sure someone will recognize it and set me straight.
12/11/2010 at 5:28 pm #1940129
CodeJunkie
WOW – How cool is that. This sounds just like Clive Cussler’s “The Chase”

Too bad I’m wrapped up doing other things or I’d make a trip to the library this morning. There are some books there that might have some info on this. The local historian is also a great resource and I’ll try to bounce this past her to see if she ever heard it.

In any event I know a great stretch of railroad track in this area that could be the perfect setting. Time to start researching.
12/11/2010 at 6:34 pm #1940130
RSplash40
Cussler rocks!

I’ve heard a similar story back when I was working my way through dive training in rhinelander, no location was given though so it could very well be the same one.

Part of the story went you could walk the old railroad bed and using a long bar push through the swamp and tap it. Maybe they meant from a bridge?

Interesting how twists and turns come from all over eh?
12/11/2010 at 6:43 pm #1940131
JimandLinda
Participant
If it is true, it would probably be near Snakes Pipeline (GC11K37). When I walked to these 4 caches, this area had water ON the railway, leading me to believe that the rails-to-trails was settling into the peat marsh.
Plenty of room for another cache, CJ, but it looks like this is a State Wildlife Area, and permission might be tricky.
It IS a nature trail for humans, so it’s not like cachers can’t go there. And a snowmobile trail in winter.

Hope the legend is true!
12/11/2010 at 8:31 pm #1940132
bartrod
Participant
Check with the local county historical society…you’d be surpised at what you can find out there 😀

Oconto...the birthplace of western civilization:)
12/11/2010 at 9:31 pm #1940133
gkrone
RSplash40 wrote:

Cussler rocks!quote]

I just got done arranging and checking my library of Clive Cussler for my Christmas list. I’m only missing 6 from his approximately 48 titles.
12/11/2010 at 9:50 pm #1940134
RSplash40
@gkrone wrote:

@RSplash40 wrote:

Cussler rocks!quote]

I just got done arranging and checking my library of Clive Cussler for my Christmas list. I’m only missing 6 from his approximately 48 titles.

Which ones? I’ve got a couple of duplicates :>
12/11/2010 at 10:26 pm #1940135
zoesbrother
@gkrone wrote:

@RSplash40 wrote:

Cussler rocks!quote]

I just got done arranging and checking my library of Clive Cussler for my Christmas list. I’m only missing 6 from his approximately 48 titles.

GC247EZ is calling your name then
12/12/2010 at 1:06 am #1940136
CodeJunkie
@zoesbrother wrote:

@gkrone wrote:

@RSplash40 wrote:

Cussler rocks!

I just got done arranging and checking my library of Clive Cussler for my Christmas list. I’m only missing 6 from his approximately 48 titles.

GC247EZ is calling your name then

Dang – I think I get it, but I do almost all my books on tape making my method worthless. Cussler books in the car really “shorten” the drive time.
12/12/2010 at 1:08 am #1940137
CodeJunkie
@JimandLinda wrote:

If it is true, it would probably be near Snakes Pipeline (GC11K37). When I walked to these 4 caches, this area had water ON the railway, leading me to believe that the rails-to-trails was settling into the peat marsh.
Plenty of room for another cache, CJ, but it looks like this is a State Wildlife Area, and permission might be tricky.
It IS a nature trail for humans, so it’s not like cachers can’t go there. And a snowmobile trail in winter.

Hope the legend is true!

Still plenty of room on the west end (4 caches in a mile leaves plenty of space). The interpretive signs here would make a great earthcache also (UH OH – I think I may have given something away here) 😯
12/12/2010 at 1:45 am #1940138
Trekkin and Birdin
Participant
I did that series a couple years ago in the early spring, when I was at a conference in Green Lake. Out there at dusk, it was wonderful. And I also thought it could be a nice EarthCache, but my mind was on the peepers, and the American Bittern and the rails calling, so I didn’t do more than think about it.
12/12/2010 at 1:47 am #1940139
Sparse Grey Hackle
Sure, read about a train (steam engine) that derailed up Nort off of the Bear Skin Trail into a bog and suppose to remain there today.

There is a narrative sign on the rails-to-trails location outside of Minocqua that details the whole event, etc.

Lots of derailments back then. This one was just left there.

SGH

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“Don’t drive it so dang fast it won’t make it around the bend.”
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“I think it needs some more liquid smoke in it.”
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12/12/2010 at 3:03 am #1940140
RSplash40
@Sparse Grey Hackle wrote:

Sure, read about a train (steam engine) that derailed up Nort off of the Bear Skin Trail into a bog and suppose to remain there today.

There is a narrative sign on the rails-to-trails location outside of Minocqua that details the whole event, etc.

Lots of derailments back then. This one was just left there.

SGH

Hrmm..that would probably be the one I heard while dive training.
12/12/2010 at 3:54 am #1940141
The Pirate Monkies
With all of the Clive Cussler fans here, we may be able to start a new “off topic” thread…
p.s.
To me, Cussler’s N.U.M.A. novels are second only to Clancy’s “actual” novels, not his supermarket Op Center/ Net Force/ Ghost Recon paperbacks… Yea? or Nay?…
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