Thursday, October 27, 2016

CSX/Big Four Bridge over Great Miami River in Sidney, OH

(Bridge Hunter, Historic BridgesSatellite)

Greg Schultz posted
Concrete viaduct in Sidney, OH. Not sure if it was NYC or PRR. From a slide I took in 1998. The viaduct is still active.

I thought all of the big concrete arch viaducts were in east coast states. I did not realize that there was one this close to the Chicago area. This bridge ups my priority to make a trip to Columbus, OH, although Sidney would be a bit of a detour.

My 1928 RR Atlas shows the north/south route through Sidney was B&O and the east/west route was Big Four (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis). Big Four was controlled and then bought by the New York Central. When Conrail was split between NS and CSX, CSX got this route so it now has a monopoly on traffic in Sidney, OH since it always owned the B&O route.

Both railroads had viaducts, but this bridge is on the east/west route. Looking at satellite images, the southern viaduct has only one arch that does not have trees in it. The eastern viaduct has multiple clear arches and their is little truss bridge close by that is in the lower-left corner of this photo.

Update:
Marty Bernard posted
Philip Kulina: Is that a vehicle bridge below it ?
Dennis DeBruler: Philip Kulina It was until 1997. I'm seeing conflicting information as to whether or not it is now open for pedestrians.
https://bridgehunter.com/oh/shelby/sidney/
https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ohio/gearhart/
G.A. Lauterbur: Dennis DeBruler It is not formally open to any traffic. Access is blocked off and it's heavily overgrown at both ends. Pedestrian access would be at one's own risk and might be considered trespassing.
Marty Bernard shared
Joe Fuller: Is this bridge still being used and when was it built?
Dennis DeBruler: Joe Fuller Yes, by CSX. 1924
https://bridgehunter.com/oh/shelby/big-four/
https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ohio/bigfour/

MP Rail Photography posted
After turning off the Toledo Subdivision, E700 is seen heading eastbound on the CSX Indy Line as it crosses over the Big Four Bridge in Sidney.
September 2, 2023
Sidney, Ohio
Power:
CSX 3207 - ES44AH
CSX 540 - ES44AH
MP Rail Photography shared
 
MP Rail Photography posted
Like being in a time machine, CSX 1976, the Conrail Heritage Unit, leads M363 across the Big Four Bridge in Sidney, Ohio on the CSX Indy Line.
Septemer 2, 2023
Sidney, Ohio
Power:
CSX 1976 - ES44AC (Conrail Heritage Unit)
CSX 489 - AC44CW
Ambrotype Visuals: Oh my! And with those parts cars right up front.
MP Rail Photography: Ambrotype Visuals, yes, big fan of the high cubes.
Roger Riblett shared

Historic Bridges mentioned the piers of a Big Four bridge that got destroyed by a flood in 1913. A couple of hours after reading that I came across this posting.
Mark Slater posted
Bridge supports from the former CCC&StL (Big Four) over the Miami River in Sidney Ohio. Line was moved south of town in 1920s.

Five of the six photos posted by Bill Edrington with the comment:
The massive poured-concrete viaduct over the Great Miami River at Sidney was built by the Big Four in 1923. It replaced a low-level, flood-prone crossing of the river and eliminated the severe grades associated with it. Part of the old main line still exists as an industrial spur. The relocated "Bee Line" main line is still a primary CSX line today.
Bill posted again.
David Hicks posted
Sidney OH. I think I might have shred this before. Another Big 4 structure I think.
Bill Edrington Yes, it was built by the Big Four as part of a line relocation project in the 1920s. (I’m going to put in a pitch here for the “Fans of the New York Central’s Big Four Lines” Facebook group, in case you might be interested.)
Michael Moore Yes, Big 4. Now CSX.
Wayne York Built 1922 I think. I just found two pictures of construction which I will post soon.

The detail photos are interesting because they show that spalling is becoming an issue.

1

2

3

4

6
Tanner Wical commented on Bill's second posting
There is also this one just outside of Sidney.
Fourth photo posted by David Hicks
Viaduct is in Sidney and quite the structure.
J B Lawson Sr. try going close too that bridge a few days after 9/01/11 Army guys on both sides of the Viaduct, going over the bridge at 60 mph. told my Big E, if the bridge goes Bye, Bye. I'd meet him at the old passenger station on the Indy Line!!!
David Honan

MP Rail Photography posted
CSX I008 crosses the Big 4 Bridge in Sidney, Ohio with CSX 527 (NCSTL Sticker Unit) leading and a YN2 AC44CW trailing.
November 11, 2021
Power:
CSX 527 - AC44CW
CSX 443 - AC44CW
MP Rail Photography shared

MP Rail Photography posted
CSX Q205 creeps across the Big 4 Bridge in Sidney, Ohio as it waits for a signal to head South on CSX Toledo Subdivision.
October 11, 2021
Power:
CSX 4047 - SD40-3
CSX 8034 - ES44AH
MP Rail Photography shared

MP Rail Photography posted
I132 with a UP SD70M and KCS GEVO for power, crosses over the former Big 4 Bridge along the Indie Line in Sidney, Ohio.
February 18, 2022
Power:
UP 4925 - SD70M
KCS 4684 - ES44AC
MP Rail Photography shared

This must be on the other side of the bridge.
MP Rail Photography posted
Q209 crosses the CSX bridge over the Great Miami River in Sidney, Ohio. This bridge is on the CSX Toledo Subdivision and is just south of the more commonly known Big 4 railroad bridge on the CSX Indie Line.
February 18, 2022
Power:
CSX 7235 - CM44AC
CSX 3119 - ES44AH

MP Rail Photography: Bill Wolcott, the Big Four Bridge is on the Indie Line, which is to the north of this Bridge. This bridge is on the Toledo Sub. On the Map, the Big Four Bridge is Yellow and the bridge in the photo is the blue. The abutments in the photo are from the original bridge that was built over the Miami River.
MP Rail Photography shared


2 comments:

  1. You can read more on the history of the railroad bridges in Shelby County with my forthcoming book. There were 23 new bridges total, plus 7 miles of totally new right-of-way on the Big Four. No bridges went down in the 1913 flood. The book is; "THE GREAT MIAMI RIVER VALLEY RAILROAD REALIGNMENT PROJECTS." It covers the CH&D (1910-1911) and the Big Four (1922-1924) in Shelby and Logan Counties.

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  2. I hope your new book covers the Big 4 bridge in DeGraff that goes over Stony Creek.

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