CN/IC crosses the Little Calumet River twice. This northern crossing is part of the Illinois Waterway. The southern crossing is still a natural river.
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| Stan Sienicki posted Just crossed over the top of the CSX Barr Yard we head north on IC Thoroughfare 4 we approach the Cal Sag River. |
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| The other LRC crossing |
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| David Daruszka posted Approaching the bridges over the Sanitary and Ship Canal in Riverdale, IL. David DaruszkaDavid and 620 others joined RAILROAD BRIDGES, TRESTLES, TUNNELS AND CUTS within the last two weeks. Give them a warm welcome into your community! 2009 Dennis DeBrulerYou and 620 others joined RAILROAD BRIDGES, TRESTLES, TUNNELS AND CUTS within the last two weeks. I see there is a fourth bridge that is now abandoned. https://www.google.com/.../@41.6508529,-87.../data=!3m1!1e3 David DaruszkaDavid and 620 others joined RAILROAD BRIDGES, TRESTLES, TUNNELS AND CUTS within the last two weeks. Give them a warm welcome into your community! I believe the 4th bridge was a connection with the B&OCT and the Panhandle. |
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| Michael Brandt posted What a great shot of the IC trestles over the Cal-Sag in Riverdale. In 1971 when they were under construction I was hanging out here with Jim Sullivan and fell off and broke my left humorous bone, it was in traction and everything. Dave Wantiez: I think everyone played on or under that bridge surprised more people didn't get hurt playing there. Playing might not be the right word. Michael Brandt: Dave Wantiez oh its the right word alright, it was lots of fun climbing around on them. I remember sitting right under the tracks with a train speeding by over our heads. |
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| Christopher Doud Photography posted "I wanna see you in the morning... I wanna see you when the breaking day is dawning." Went all the way to the south burbs for this exact shot. Nickel Plate 765 and the Joliet Rocket crossing the Cal-Sag River using the old Rock Island line enroute to LaSalle Street Station 16 September 2018. Paul Jevert shared |
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| Jim Griffith posted Riverdale Tower-Riverdale, Illinois |
I watched a history video to try to find when the channel was widened from one barge width to today's width because that is when this bridge would have been replaced by the truss bridges. But it did not mention the former channels including:
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| Bob Lalich commented on a post The truss bridges were built in the early 1970s. Here is an aerial from 1973 during construction. |
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| Bob Lalich commented on a post I forgot that the IC crosses the Little Calumet River twice. [The other crossing and the posted photo.] The old bridges at Riverdale were deck type as well, but there were fewer spans. here is Riverdale in 1959. Michael Brandt posted A great shot of the IC trestle over the Calumet River before they widened the river and built the huge bridges for the barges to get through easier. |
Michael Brandt posted
Another picture of the 1969 IC crash in Riverdale when a coal train was speeding down the mainline outside of Riverdale. Ahead of this coal train was a string of autoracks being pulled by a switcher. It slammed into the rear of the autoracks, throwing twelve of them aside before the lead loco came to rest under the thirteenth one, seen in the picture.Around 100 coal cars jackknifed into a space of about one city block, a bridge was collapsed in the wreck, the lead unit which was a U-Boat was totally destroyed, the other two locos which were geeps were returned to service. The crew members on the coal train died and were later found under all of the coal that was piled up where the crash initally began.
Dave Ladislas Sr. posted the comment: "Anybody recall the bad IC train accident over the Cal-Sag,on the bridge just N. of Riverdale in like late 1969 involving a coal train and an auto-rack train? I think the crew on the coal train was killed,a few autos ended up in the river,and still there,supposedly.Only reason I recall it,my Buddy had a Corvette shop back then,and there were a few involved,and he wanted to buy them.The automobiles ended up at the IC yard in Markham/Harvey.It was kind of funny,when we went to look at them,not one car had tires or batteries in them,lol."
Jon Roma: I was but a child when it took place on September 26, 1969, but I have read the accident report. The crew of a northbound train, Extra 5055 North, fell asleep due to the effects of fatigue and alcohol, passed stop signals, and rear-ended a standing train, Extra 1214 North.
The rear brakeman of Extra 1214 North, and the engineer and head brakeman of Extra 5055 North were killed.
The rear brakeman of Extra 1214 North, and the engineer and head brakeman of Extra 5055 North were killed.
Jon Roma: Notice that the caboose body is completely sheared off the frame, and the engine is pretty much crumpled. The accident report estimates that the collision speed was close to 60 mph.
Daryl Guthrie: The true cause was covered up by the IC as usual blamed the crew. Not true.
David Daruszka: Daryl Guthrie. The NTSB report places the blame on the crew. https://www.jonroma.net/.../Railroad%20Accident... [Unfortunately, this link is now (Dec 2023) broke. Fortunately, I found a valid link.]
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| David Daruszka commented on Dave's post |
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| Michael Brandt posted And last but not least, it's Four more pictures of the 1969 IC crash in Riverdale when Around 100 coal cars jackknifed into a space of about one city block. The crew members on the coal train died and were later found under all of the coal that was piled up where the crash initally began. |
So did this swing bridge proceed the steel girder bridge?
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| Douglas Butler posted, "Railway Gazarette" Illinois Central Railroad Swing Bridge crossing the Little Calumet River in Riverdale, Illinois. It was replaced in 1925. Michael Brandt posted It's the old IC bridge over the Calumet River before they raised the tracks. |
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| Michael Brandt posted A great shot looking up at the IC bridges that go over the Calumet River. It sure was nice of them to build these for us, it was like installing monkey bars on steroid's . Can we still say monkey bars? |
Metra posted five photos with the comment: "👷👷♀️ Teamwork makes the dream work, and the Metra team definitely made it work replacing the expansion joints on track 2 on the Cal Sag bridge 🤩."
[Or does it mean a lot of workers watching a few people working because of union work rules or too much management or what?]
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