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Does that refer to the HTTP version or the HTTPS version?

Wow, had no idea. How did Google score that protocol?

It's a Google Search feature [0]. Add "cache:" in front of the URL you search on Google to try and view the cached version.

Since most browsers nowadays implement an "omnibar" with Google as the default search provider, it appears seamless and performs the redirect.

Because they also control the browser, only works in chrome

It works in Firefox too, but I guess that's because I have Google set to my default search engine. Good trick.

It works for me in Safari macOS Sierra

I assume it is built into Chrome and is just a redirect.

TL;DR: Chrome is taking a leaf out of PHP's silently-and-confusingly-make-it-work book, and stripping the "//" in "cache://".

Wow, nice. Chrome only, I assume.

Works for me in Safari macOS Sierra. But the default search provider for the address bar is Google.