Update: While my daughter was driving me around Chicago so that I could take pictures, I shot a sequence from I-55. Fortunately, the camera was able to lock focus even though we were moving at highway speeds. It appears the third bridge is not totally abandoned. I wonder what they have planned for it. (Another Update: The third bridge is to help connect BNSF's Corwith Yard with BNSF's Clyde Yard.)
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| 20150705 2632, more photos from the Richard J. Daley Park |
It is embarrassing when the street view gets a better photo. And he even caught it with a train.
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| Street View |
I caught it graffiti free, but I didn't dodge the vegetation very well. I do not like walking in weeds for various reasons.
This is the lowest fixed bridge at 17-feet on the Lake Michigan to Gulf of Mexico waterway. (The Chicago River An illustrated History and Guide to the River and Its Waterways, 2nd Edition, 2006, David M. Solzman, p.221) This surprised me because I have heard that the South Branch Bridge is the lowest. Then I remembered that they can, and do, still raise the South Branch Bridge. (Update: USACE lists it as 17.6')
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| MWRD posted A tugboat and steamship pass through the 8 Track Rail Bridge and a swing bridge at Western Avenue on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (near the current home of the Richard J. Daley Park and boat launch) on April 20, 1921 Dennis DeBruler: Wow, that near span closed really quickly and/or the ship is moving really slow. |
Brenda Williamson posted two photos in "The Great Loop" with the comment:
For decades I have wondered which railroads used the 8-track bridge that crosses the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal just west of Western Avenue Bridge. My study of the Brighton Park Crossing has answered that question. The bridges carry the Western Avenue Corridor across the canal. Originally, the 8 tracks, starting from the east side, were 2 tracks for the Chicago Junction Railroad (New York Central), 2 tracks for the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal, and 4 tracks for the Panhandle Route of the Pennsy. But one of the Pennsy tracks was not used.
Currently, the usage is 2 tracks for NS/NYC/CJ and 2 tracks for CSX/B&OCT. That is, only the 2 eastern spans of the 4 spans still have tracks on them.
Some sources refer to this as a Pennsylvania Railroad bridge because the Panhandle Route was the first railroad to build in this corridor. But these spans were built by the Sanitary District of Chicago. The official name seems to be Eight Track Bridge. But I like the "Scissors Bridges" nickname because of the unique design of alternating which side a span lifts from.
This is one of six railroad bridges in Chicago's list of 353 landmarks.
Since the bridges are changing, I record the image I obtained in 2016.
Randy provided two photos on a post with the comment: "I wish this bridge was 3ft higher off the water. It's the lowest bridge on the river and I always drag my antennas on the tug boat across the bottom."
Here are two bridges that people sometimes confuse.First, the black one is in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on the route through downtown Chicago. It is 17’ in Navionics and 17’6” in Skipper Bob book. Its name is Conrail CSX Railroad Bridge. It is what you have to clear to go through downtown Chicago. (I thought some of the cool looking bridges in downtown would be the lowest, but no, it is this one.)The second bridge (which needs some paint) is the infamous unavoidable Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe bridge which is 19’7” (plus or minus depending on water level). It is after the downtown Chicago route and the Calumet River route converge. Everyone who does the Great Loop must go under this one.
Sean Welsh: I did a write-up here on clearance at the Scherzer Eight-Track (and Lemont) back in April, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheGreatLoop/posts/10161225542018630/
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| Sean Welsh posted Chicago bridge heights. We seem to go through this pretty regularly, but we have new people all the time, and the time has come again to set the record straight on bridge heights entering the Western Rivers system, based on some of the misconceptions I am reading in another thread. All loopers will eventually pass through the Illinois Waterway and so if you are confused at all, please keep reading. If you wish to take the Chicago River route to see downtown Chicago on your loop journey, you will need to be able to get your air draft down to just a hair over 17'. I'm reluctant to say what a "hair" is because pool levels change daily and you can literally get stuck in the river with no way out on either end if you are not careful. A safe rule of thumb is 17.1' max air draft. On *most* days, if you are taller than that, you won't even be able to get into the river much further than the lock, because you will be stopped by the Michigan Avenue bridge, which does not open for pleasure craft normally. You may have read here that this bridge, along with several other bridges along the route, opens a few times a year, in a timed sequence so that a whole flotilla of sailboats can get through. This is true, and it is a scheduled event in order to move sailboats from the lakefront marinas up to their dry storage yards inland in the fall, before the marinas close and the lake starts to freeze. HOWEVER: the lift sequence only goes as far as the boatyards. What you will run into a little further along is the historic Scherzer Eight-Track bridge, pictured below. This bridge is listed in various sources as the Chessie, ConRail, or CSX bridge or some combination of those names (originally the Pennsylvania Railroad Western Avenue Bridge), and in some places it is listed as a bascule drawbridge. However, the bridge NO LONGER OPENS and is welded closed. It has a vertical clearance at normal pool of 17.5'. If you should mistakenly follow the sailboat crowd through the annual lift sequence into the heart of Chicago, you will be stopped in your tracks (no pun intended) by this bridge. You'll have to turn around, but the bridge lifts in the fall are timed only from the lake to the yards. You'll have to wait until spring to go back to the lake, when the lifts are timed in the other direction. You will have an expensive unscheduled yard layup in Chicago, assuming the yard can even haul you. I am the first person to always say "go to the official government sources" rather than Facebook commentary or even what you read in guide books, Active Captain, Waterway Guide, or the AGLCA web site. But this is a case where a simple error in the official source has led people down the primrose path. Specifically there is a bit of obsolete information in the official Army Corps of Engineers bridge list, which shows this as a bascule bridge. It should either be listed as fixed or have a note that shows it does not open. The bridge is listed at Mile 320.4. If your air draft is greater than 17.1', I can highly recommend you take one of the numerous Chicago River cruises that leave from downtown to see the river. My own preference is the Architecture Tour, which discusses all the historic buildings along the route and costs a few bucks more. The bypass around this 17.1' restriction is to take the Cal-Sag route that begins in Calumet Harbor just north of Hammond, Indiana. The lowest bridge on this route is a former swing bridge, now also welded closed, at Mile 300.5 in Lemont, Illinois. It is variously named the ATSF or BNSF bridge and will clear a little more than 20' on a good day, and as little as 19' on a high water day. If your air draft is greater than 19', you *must* check the pool levels on either side of the bridge and do some math to time your transit. I have cleared that bridge at 19'8" with room to spare, but I had to do an about face on my first pass. |
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| MWRD posted A view to the north showing the 8-track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Avenue on July 5, 1910. The MWRD built the bridge, which is actually four separate spans with two rail tracks each, between 1908 and 1910. |
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| MWRD posted on Feb 5, 2022 A view of the construction site for the first Eight Track Rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on August 22, 1899, looking east from a temporary trestle. The bridge would later be replaced by the current bridge in 1909. |
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| MWRD posted Construction of the 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal November 27, 1899. This bridge was replaced by the current bridge in 1909. |
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| MWRD posted on Oct 24, 2022 The 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on January 23, 1909, showing a crew at work between tracks on the northern approach of bridge. This bridge was replaced by the current bridge in 1909. |
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| MWRD posted The 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal showing a crew at work between tracks on the northern approach of bridge on January 23, 1909. This bridge was replaced by the current bridge in 1909. |
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| Dennis DeBruler shared a MWRD posting Historical photo of the week: The 8-track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Ave is seen opened for passage of tanks bound for Dickinson Seed Company on February 27, 1917. [Note the power lines on the left that terminated at a switchyard building to the left of the photographer.] |
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| MWRD posted Construction of the new Eight Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Ave in Chicago on September 7, 1909. The movable bascule-style bridge replaced a fixed bridge to allow for passage of large vessels. Chris Nantus shared |
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| MWRD posted A view to the north showing work on the 8-track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Avenue on February 5, 1910. The MWRD built the bridge, which is actually four separate spans with two rail tracks each, between 1908 and 1910. Timothy Leppert: Great photo. Parked the lead locomotive of a BN train on that bridge many times waiting for the interlocking signal. |
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MWRD posted A view to the north of construction of the 8 Track Rail Bridge and removal of what remained of the previous bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Ave in Chicago on February 5, 1910. Mike Breski shared David Daruszka shared Gregory Smith: Did BN put in their own bridge base over the canal or just cut into the SF west of the xing John Iwanski: Gregory Smith BNSF cut into the existing former SF Chillicothe Sub and then runs north as a "horseshoe" so it can connect with the former BN near Cicero Yard. There is a nice explanation here: https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/.../create-wa4... MWRD posted again with the same comment Chuck Edmonson shared The annoying man in the hat can be found this week at one of his favorite locales, the mighty 8 Track Bridge over the CS&SC near Western Ave., looking dapper as always. |
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| Chuck commented on his share The annoying man in the hat can be found this week at one of his favorite locales, the mighty 8 Track Bridge over the CS&SC near Western Ave., looking dapper as always. |
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| MWRD posted A view to the north showing work on the 8-track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Avenue on April 19, 1910. The #MWRD built the bridge, which is actually four separate spans with two rail tracks each, between 1908 and 1910. |
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| Chicago Landmark Designation Report |
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| Satellite |
Some sources refer to this as a Pennsylvania Railroad bridge because the Panhandle Route was the first railroad to build in this corridor. But these spans were built by the Sanitary District of Chicago. The official name seems to be Eight Track Bridge. But I like the "Scissors Bridges" nickname because of the unique design of alternating which side a span lifts from.
This is one of six railroad bridges in Chicago's list of 353 landmarks.
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| HAER Jonathan Konopka posted These are the Western Avenue "Scissors" Bridges in Chicago, IL. They are four bascule bridges that were built in 1909 and carry eight railroad tracks across the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Dennis DeBruler: HAER has several more photos: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/il0665/ |
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| David Daruszka commented on Jonathan's post Coming across. |
I found a 1908 book on Scherzer rolling lift bridges that has photos of the bridges before the rolling segments and operating machinery was added. It specifies the skew angle as 68 degrees 21 minutes 40 seconds.
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| 1908 book |
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| 1908 book |
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| MWRD posted The 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at 9:30 a.m. on January 23, 1909, with a crew at work between tracks on the northern approach of the bridge. |
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| MWRD shared Wow - look at this 1927 photo of the Chicago River at Western Ave. |
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| 3D Satellite |
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| A June, 2018 capture shows the image has not been updated |
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| Street View from I-55, Nov 2017 It looks like the bridge work has been done. |
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| MWRD posted Historical Photo of the Week: The 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, raised for passing waterway traffic, viewed from Western Avenue looking west on April 20, 1921. MWRD posted A steamship passes through the 8 Track Rail Bridge near Western Avenue on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) viewed from an area that is currently home to the Richard J. Daley Park and boat launch on the south side of the CSSC on April 20, 1921. |
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| MWRD posted A steamship passes through the 8 Track Rail Bridge and a swing bridge at Western Avenue on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, viewed from the south side of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal between the two bridges (current home to the Richard J. Daley Park and boat launch) on April 20, 1921. William Lafferty: This was my comment the last time this great photograph appeared here: The Great Lakes Towing Company's Indiana, built by that firm in 1912 at its shipyard at Cleveland, tows the venerable wooden steamer Thomas Davidson light towards Western Avenue for its long trip to Lake Michigan. Wolf & Davidson launched the vessel 5 May 1888 at Milwaukee to its own account, named for one of the two partners in the yard. Last owned by famous salvage master Captain J. T. Reid, it was abandoned at Sarnia, Ontario, in 1930, its engine removed for scrap in August 1931, and its hull burned afterwards on Lake Huron near the mouth of the St. Clair River. To the left is the Sanitary District survey both Robert R., of which I've spoken here before, and ahead of it the little passenger gas boat White Flyer also owned by the District, built at Chicago in 1928, and which would serve the District well into the 1950s. I now add that the photograph was taken from the lawn of the Sanitary District's powerhouse at 31st and Western. |
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| MWRD posted A view of the Eight Track Bridge opened for passing of a dipper dredge, looking west from the Western Avenue bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on July 23, 1920. |
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| MWRD posted on Feb 14, 2023 A view to the west showing the 8-Track bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal with the bridge lifted for passing vessels on August 3, 1920. |
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| MWRD posted A barge on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, viewed looking west towards the 8-Track Rail Bridge, on October 9, 1923. [I noticed the tugboat is owned by the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. This photo raises the question of when was the modern towboat that pushes, instead of pulls, tows developed?] MWRD posted |
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| Dennis DeBruler commented on the MWRD post This photo posted by Ken Gidewall confirms that the buildings in the upper-right corner of the MWRD photo were part of the massive International Harvester plant that occupied much of the land around the former West Fork of the South Branch between the turning basin and California Avenue. |
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| MWRD posted Construction of the first 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on September 21, 1900. This bridge was replaced by the current 8-track "scissors" bridge, which is actually four separate spans with two rail tracks each, built by the MWRD between 1908 and 1910. Dennis DeBruler: I believe the buildings in the right background were the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. before it was absorbed by International Harvester Co. in 1902. |
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| Chuck Edmonson posted Chicago's old '8 track bridge' just off Western Avenue over the Sanitary and Shipping Canal. |
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| Braian Morgan commented on the above posting According to the PRR this location was called Ash Street Junction. This is the official PRR track chart from company records.Once the PRR or P.C.C& StL reached 49th Street the B&OCT Crossed the Pennsy and ran on the west side of the embankment and the Pennsy on the east side of the embankment. The Chicago Junction Railway turned North east at Western Avenue to connect with the Stock Yards and the parent New York Central at 39th and State Street. |
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| David Daruszka commented on the above posting Engineer's view. |
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| MWRD posted Historical Photo of the Week: Some brave folks pause for a photo during work on the District-built 8-track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Western Ave on March 18, 1910. MWRD posted |
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| Joe Balynas commented on a post Bob Colton: It has the lowest clearance of any bridge on the commercially navigable sections of Chicago's waterways. Over the years several tugs have had there wheelhouses either damaged or destroyed navigating under that bridge. The Amtrak South Branch Bridge has only 11.1' of clearance. This one has 17.6' of clearance. So I guess this is the lowest of the now fixed (unmovable) bridges. |
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The bridge is in the background of these three photos posted by MWRD with the comment: "Historical Photos of the Week: A three-part photo series! A truck is removed from the south bank of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, west of Western Avenue, on April 26, 1926." I wonder what the factory is in the background of the right side of a couple of the pictures.
MWRD posted three photos with the comment: "A truck is removed from the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on the south bank, west of Western Avenue, on April 26, 1926."
The 8-track bridge is in the background of this GM&O transfer photo.
Twenty photos, most of them obtained illegally (tresspassing) I was surprised that some of the machinery to operate it still exists.
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| MWRD posted Work on the south side of the 8 Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in Chicago on December 29, 1908. This bridge was replaced by the current bridge in 1909. |
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| MWRD posted This photo from February 25, 1910, shows workers inspecting the ruins of a tool house that was destroyed by a fire during work on the 8-Track Rail Bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The photo also shows the power lines that were being constructed to the MWRD switchyard building that was between this rail bridge and the Western Avenue Bridge. |
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| Eric Allix Rogers posted Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal David Daruszka Sewer of commerce. Dennis DeBruler The photo is old enough that the Crawford Power Plant is still running. Eric Allix Rogers Yep, it's maybe about 5 years old. [The swing bridge is ICwest.] |
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| Clifton Linton posted This is an aerial photo archived at the Chicago History Museum. It is from a folder of photos taken in the early 1960s during the construction of the Stevenson Expressway -- then called the "Southwest Expressway" This shot is of the bascule bridges carrying the B&OCT and Pennsy over the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal -- Just (compass north) of Ash St. Crossing. |
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| David Daruszka shared Work on the south east side of the Eight Track rail bridge over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on November 18, 1908. |
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| David Daruszka commented on his share |
MWRD posted three photos with the comment: "A truck is removed from the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on the south bank, west of Western Avenue, on April 26, 1926."
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| 2 Eric Reinert: International Harvester/McCormick tractor works beyond the freight cars. |
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| MWRD posted A group of Sanitary District of Chicago (now MWRD) employees train on a new boat on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on August 16, 1919. |
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| Tony Raia posted 11/16/19. Today’s offering at Ash st in Pilsen. |
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| Tony Rais got a video of a NS coal train crossing a bridge |
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| safe_image for 3:15 YouTube drone video |
The 8-track bridge is in the background of this GM&O transfer photo.
Twenty photos, most of them obtained illegally (tresspassing) I was surprised that some of the machinery to operate it still exists.
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