Thursday, May 28, 2015

EJ&E Bridge #631 over Indiana Harbor Canal

(Bridge Hunter, Historic Bridges) There is another EJ&J Scherzer bridge at the other end of the Indiana Harbor Canal.

While studying some maps trying to figure out how to get close to this bridge to get pictures, I noticed that there were some pretty good satellite images available. I was surprised that Bing's north view showed it down while the east, south, and west views showed it in a raised position. The Bing images clearly show how the bridge rolls backwards along its curved girder.

Bing, North

Bing, East

Google
Update:
Mike Breski posted
IHB 4018 leads a string of coke hoppers out of Whiting Yard and across EJ&E Bridge 631 in East Chicago, IN.

HalstEd Pazdzior commented on a post
January 2021

Mark Llanuza posted
A view of EJ&E bridge 631
Mark Llanuza posted again
EJ&E bridge 631 the year 2010
John Eagan Mark Llanuza you showed the outside now here's the inside: https://www.flickr.com/.../844.../in/photolist-jDB13V-dS51wu
The window facing you in your shot is the one above the control panel.
Mark Llanuza posted
A view of EJ&E bridge 631 the year 2010
Steven Kakoczki I was just there a few weeks ago..,.sure could use some new paint.

Ted Gregory posted, cropped
EJ&E Tower and Drawbridge
Whiting, IN
Jacob Diorio posted, cropped
IHB’s 124 Job trundles across Bridge 631 in East Chicago, bound for BP. 5/30/20
William Lloyd I never had an easy trip there. They moved signals like furniture.

Two out of the four pictures Joe Zeller posted include the bridge. Joe's comment:
11/22/16, is when I caught the bridge coming down on EJ&E'S Whiting branch over the canal to allow the J's 659 and 10 cars go into the Whiting yard. 659 still looking and sounding great.
Joe Zeller This bridge sure does see more traffic these days. The J, the IHB and CSX trains.

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Matt Lasayko provided two more photos as comments on the above posting:

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Jim Griffith posted
EJ&ERR TOWER AND BRIDGE
Arturo Gross posted a Flickr photothis photo used with specific permission
EJ&E SW1200 306 leads a transfer on the Whiting branch across the IN Harbor Canal at E. Chicago IN headed for Kirk Yard Dec 1996.
Scott Pugh Doubt it was headed to Kirk Yard with just a switcher locomotive, during daylight hours, and without asphalt cars. Notice the ground crew is standing up with his coat on. Probably going to switch NID and Inland plant 4.Arturo Gross You are probably right 
Dennis DeBruler One of the few photos I have seen that shows the Indiana Harbor Canal bridge and its tower with a train coming through.

Andrew Urbanski commented on a post

Photo from Mike Kasrich's posting
Photo from Mike Kasrich's posting
Robby Gragg Flickr Photo taken on 2017 Dec 03

Survivor

CSX 3055 heads light past one of just a few surviving EJ&E searchlights at Bridge 631 in East Chicago, IN.

Joseph Kelly Thompson posted
CSXT 8801 charges a loaded coke train across old Bridge 631 in East Chicago, Indiana.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130730314@N03/

Mark Llanuza posted four photos with the comment: "Its 2010 at Bridge 631 EJ&E tower."

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Shad Steve Vargo posted two photos with the comment: "The petcoke train from BP crosses Bridge 631 yesterday. Where does this train go?"
Chad Malinovsky Paducah and Pier 9 in Virginia both via CSX and three rivers which I think is Paducah also but via CN.
Andrew Serkaian Atkinson Kentucky i believe.
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Edward Krzyowski posted two photos with the comment: "Stumbled across this little gem.EJ&E Bridge 631.East Chicago,IN."

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Joe Usselman posted
The Whiting job crosses bridge 631 in East Chicago in 2009.
Joe Usselman posted
J 659 crosses over bridge 631 on the Whiting branch at East Chicago in 2008.
Dennis DeBruler Thanks for providing the "Whiting Branch" info. I understand the EJ&E mainline that goes around the Chicagoland area. But all of the little tendrils in Northwest Indiana and Southeast Chicago are still a puzzle in my mind. I checked the one map I have that labels branches and it calls this the CN "Calumet Spur." So is "Whiting Branch" the historical EJ&E name? Or is my map reference wrong?
Joe Usselman posted
The Whiting job crosses bridge 631 at East Chicago in 2011
Todd Pearson I hated that scrap heap. That’s the one line I wasn’t qualified on.

Joseph Kelly Thompson Flicker 2019 Photo

CSXT 8801 @ East Chicago, Indiana


CSXT 8801 leads a loaded CSX coke train across the old Bridge 631 in East Chicago, Indiana.


Robby Gragg Flickr


Ken Schmidt posted
On a gloomy day in 1989, this former SP switcher, now working for the IHB, pulls across the bridge at J tower in East Chicago, IN. Well worth having the radio with me in my travels in NW Indiana.
Dennis DeBruler So the IHB had trackage rights over the EJ&E here. I wonder how much of the J could be used by IHB.
Bob Lalich Besides this segment between Whiting and just north of Michigan Ave, IHB had trackage rights on the EJ&E Lakefront Line between South Works and Indiana Harbor.

Jacob Diorio posted
CN’s Whiting Job approaches Bridge 631 over the Indiana Harbor Canal in East Chicago. In the foreground are some of the teeth that guide this Scherzer rolling lift bridge as it raises and lowers. Built in 1913, this little bridge guides movements across the canal on the daily. 4/9/20
Ean Kahn-Treras CN coming back to normal back here. Did they ever bother to do some weird IHB routing via Grasselli while the diamond was out at Calumet?
Jacob Diorio Not to my knowledge, but they went across Grasselli to Sims on the ECB today. I wasn’t able to get there in time but ATCS told the tale.
Ean Kahn-Treras I have seen a few instances of the CN lighting up the ATCS over there too. Haven't been in the area though at the right time!
It is honestly hard to keep AAR 16 open on the scanner when I'm out there because of every goddamn departure from Kirk talking for hourrrrssssssss. Heck, I don't even know if they talk on 16 to get on the Whiting Line. I know communications with 631 are over AAR 16 though.
Jacob Diorio I’ll keep that in mind next time I’m out. They seem to work very quickly along there,.
Andrew Urbanski Jacob Diorio were you wading in the water ?
Jacob Diorio Andrew Urbanski No, the water was a few feet behind me.

Austin Sasse posted
Your local home boy IC 1497 working the Whiting Job. New years 2017?
Chuck Roth One of the few tower jobs left around
Mike Squires What sort of locomotive is that.
Andy Puch Mike Squires IC SW1400

1 of 6 photos posted by Bing Owens
Made a trip to East Chicago, Indiana today...lots of old industry...lots of rust to cause the imagination to run wild.
Found EJ&E Bridge #631 over Indiana Harbor Canal...near Cline Ave and the canal...a Rolling Lift bridge on the Whiting Branch line...

(new window) A NS GP60 followed by the Donald C. Tugboat pushing two liquid product barge. It is one of the bigger towboats that I have seen that has a pilot house that can be raised and lowered.



Robert Jordon shared a link to a photo of a CSX transfer train crossing the bridge.
Craig Cloud Heading into Whiting yd?
Ean Kahn-Treras exactly right. NB across bridge 631


Arturo Gross Flickr photo contradicts the above posting because he indicates a petcoke train going in the same direction is leaving Whiting Yard. Judging from a satellite image in my posting on Whiting Yard, Arturo is correct assuming the loco in Joe's photo is pulling the train. The tower is on the southeast side of the bridge. It is good to see that Koch is finally getting petcoke out of his KCBX Terminals rather than piling it high along the Calumet River and letting it blow over residential neighborhoods.

2018 Flickr photo of petcoke leaving Whiting Yard on the bridge

1995 Flickr closeup of the rolling end






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