1887+1932 BNSF/Santa Fe Bridge over Illinois River at Chillicothe, IL

(Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; John A. Weeks III; Satellite; RailPictures)

Birds-Eye View

It is interesting that Chillicothe has a rail bridge, but no road bridge. Looking north of the current bridge on a satellite image, it appears that at least two other bridges used to cross the river. You would think they would have turned one of those old rail alignments into a road across the river. Long embankments across the floodplain were used so that the bridge is high above the river. This means that the main span does not need to be movable.

A video of an eastbound BNSF double stack crossing the bridge. (source)

Update: So they elevated the tracks so that it doesn't have to be movable? (Update: Yes. The swing bridge was built in 1887 and the replacement was done in 1932. The 1932 bridge has a clearance of 66' (20m). "Just south of the river crossing is the one major obstacle for trains between Chicago and Kansas City. That is the five mile climb out of the Illinois River valley known as Edelstein Hill. A curve in the railroad at milepost 133, known as Houlihan's Curve, is a very popular railfan location."[JohnWeeks])

Andy Zukowski posted
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Bridge in Chillicothe, Illinois. 1911

Bill Molony posted
Five EMD F-units roll the eastbound Santa Fe Super Chief - El Capitan across the Illinois River near Chillicothe in October of 1964.

Jerry Jackson commented on the above posting
SW Chief 1989.
Jerry Jackson posted
An even sturdier bridge, unless I didn't get the news. I think it's still standing, I think. Amtrak's inbound Southwest Chief is crossing the Illinois River, Chillicothe, IL. I wanna say this was 1989/90 when the ATSF owned the rail!
David Daruszka The center structure is a camel back truss bridge connected on either end by deck type truss bridges
Robby Gragg That bridge is still there but highly inaccessible, sadly
Jerry JacksonJerry and 1 other manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Chicagoland Railfan. I drove in through the Duck Club that was there at the time
Davis Shroomberg The only access roads in now are gated. Even so, doesn't look like anything I'd want to attempt when it's muddy.

Howard Keil posted, cropped
Chillicothe

Trevor J. Jigus posted
“Chillicothe - Where the Rails Cross the River”

 

0:42 video @ 0:30
Amtrak Crossing the Illinois River
Combined AMTK 4 & 6 crosses the Illinois River at Chillicothe due to a coal train derailment near Naperville, Illinois. Amtrak No. 4, the Southwest Chief (Los Angeles CA to Chicago IL), and Amtrak No. 6, the California Zephyr (Emeryville CA to Chicago IL) were combined at Galesburg and detoured along the BNSF Chillicothe Subdivision.
[The eastbound train is moving to the right. The locomotives that we see are on the rear of the train.
A 0:46 video of the combined Amtrak train.]

Howard Keil shared
David JordanDavid and 4 others manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Peoria Illinois Railroads Trains & Shortlines. Chillicothe

Howard Keil also shared
Shawn Volpe Looking eastwardMike Martin Amtrak speed limit is 79 while fastest freight limit is 70 on Chilli Sub. Gearing will limit freight speed but 75 might be doable. Road network to chase trains on Chilli Sub is horrendous! I chased Milwaukee #261 from Chilli to Media one time. He slowed down in Galesburg enough so I could get the trestle shot at Media.

Nic Keegan shared

Chillicothe Area Historical Society posted
Here is a pic that many of you may have never seen. Its one impressive shot! Sounds like its was a bit risky to do! Poor camera got bashed in the jump.
Howard Keil shared

 

Andy Zukowski posted
Santa Fe Railroad Bridge in Chillicothe, Illinois. 1911
Chuck Rabideau: No over width loads here.
Ric Tate: The new bridge was protected by the national guard for months after 911 due to its significance and the importance of the trade route.
Zach Malcolm shared

Bob Kalal commented on Andy's post
I see on Ric Tate's photo, from 1931

Ric Tate commented on Bob's comment
here is another great one of that swap out.. the borrow pits which supplied the grade for the tracks are still on either side of the river

Ric Tate commented on Andy's photo
another great shot of this bridge

Ric Tate commented on Andy's photo
new and old - Chillicothe IL

Ric Tate commented on Andy's photo
There are still remnants of the old bridge on the site

Three of the photos posted by Jeff Vonk.

1

2

3

Carl Venzke posted
Chillicothe, Illinois. Crossing the Illinois River along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, between Chicago and Chillicothe, Illinois - Jack Delano photo - March 1943

Roger Holmes posted
This BNSF eastbound has just passed through the town of Chillicothe, Illinois on the morning of Saturday May 4, 2019. The Illinois River is 8+ feet above flood stage at this point.

2:46 YouTube drone vide of several different trains crossing the bridge, 6-6-21