Illinois Central 1905 Bridge over Tennessee River near Gilbertsville, KY

(no Bridge Hunter, bridge no longer exists)

During the 1937 flood, the water came within a foot of reaching the tracks. [Cliff Downey comment on his Facebook post via Dennis DeBruler.]

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted

You definitely need some serious G-U-T-S to work on a bridge gang. This photo was taken March 28, 1905, during construction of the IC's new drawbridge over the Tennessee River at Gilbertsville, KY (this is about 25 miles east of Paducah, but north by timetable direction). This new drawbridge replaced the original drawbridge at this location, built in the early 1870's.

A small crane has installed some temporary trestework and a temporary span, all in preparation for construction of the drawspan. The drawspan will be erected atop the pivot pier in the background.

The new bridge at Gilbertsville opened to traffic in mid-1905. Then in 1944 IC's tracks were rerouted across Kentucky Dam, which was built about 300 yards upstream from the bridge. Afterwards, several spans of the old IC bridge were moved to New Johnsonville, TN, where they were used to build a "new" bridge for the NC&StL (whose old bridge was flooded out by Kentucky Lake).

I copied the following from the Kentucky Dam posting because you can see this old bridge in the left background.

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted

Back on October 10, 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman formally dedicated Kentucky Dam along the Tennessee River at Gilbertsville, KY. The dam stands 206 feet tall, is 8,422 feet long, and creates a reservoir (Kentucky Lake) that stretches 184 miles south into Tennessee.

The dam was built about 100 yards upstream from IC's drawbridge across the Tennessee River. This drawbridge was built in 1904-05 and replaced an older bridge dating back to the 1870's.

During construction of Kentucky Dam the IC's Kentucky Division mainline was rerouted atop Kentucky Dam. The new route atop the dam opened to train service on Nov. 2, 1944. The attached photo was taken early that morning, prior to the arrival of the first train, northbound passenger train 102, with Lewis "Pop" Cofer at the throttle, making his last run after a 61 year career that began in 1883 with the Chesapeake Ohio & Southwestern Railroad. A portion of the old IC drawbridge is visible at far left.

Numerous changes have been made to Kentucky Dam over the years. A highway was added to the side of the dam, then a few years ago the highway and railroad tracks were relocated to new bridges below the dam so the locks at Kentucky Dam could be enlarged

The new bridge that moved the railroad off the Kentucky Dam.

Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook posted three photos with the comment:

July 4, 1903, was a memorable day on the Illinois Central Railroad in Kentucky, but for the wrong reasons.  One span of the drawbridge over the Tennessee River near Gilbertsville caught fire, killing a laborer who was part of a gang trying to extinguish the fire.  The loss of the laborer was tragic, but IC's managers were probably more concerned about the fact that the busy Louisville-Paducah line was now shut down.

By the end of the day arrangements had been made with steam boat captains to ferry passengers, mail, and express packages across the river.  Some freight cars could be rerouted over other routes, but most freight would have to wait until the bridge was repaired.  And the IC pulled every available resource between Louisville and Memphis to repair the bridge - STAT!

Service was restored on July 8.  The Gilbertsville bridge had been built in the early 1870's by the Elizabethtown & Paducah Railroad.  Like many bridges of the era, part of the bridge was constructed using heavy timbers clad in metal plates.  These bridges were cheap and fast to build, but were susceptible to fire.  On July 9 the IC announced that the Gilbertsville bridge would be replaced with a new, all-steel draw bridge.  

Two of the attached photos show the Gilbertsville bridge on Sept. 3, 1902, some 10 months before the fire.  The third photo was taken on March 28, 1905, during construction of the new bridge.  Train 102, with L.L. "Pop" Cofer at the throttle, was the first train across the new bridge, on July 10, 1905.  The bridge would serve until 1944, when the tracks were rerouted atop Kentucky Dam, which was built about 100 yards upstream.  Incidentally, the first train across Kentucky Dam had "Pop" Cofer at the throttle, and the train was numbered 102!  

Afterwards, most of the Gilbertsville bridge (excluding the draw span, which was scrapped), was floated upstream to New Johnsonville, TN, where the NC&StL was building a new bridge across Kentucky Lake.  A new draw bridge had to be built at New Johnsonville since the old one was outdated.  CSX still uses the New Johnsonville bridge every day, and those bridge spans from 1905 are still in place.

Three photos by IC company photographers, Cliff Downey collection.

Incidentally,  "Pop" Cofer was at the throttle of the first train

Cliff Downey shared

1
Illinois Central's draw bridge across the Tennessee River at Gilbertsville, KY, Sept. 3, 1902. A section of the bridge burned and collapsed on July 4, 1903, and the bridge was out of service until July 8. Afterwards, construction of a new bridge began, which opened on July 10, 1905. IC company photographer, Cliff Downey collection.
Douglas Butler shared
IC RR Swing Bridge is closed for train traffic in Gilbertsville, KY credit to Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook.

2
Illinois Central's draw bridge across the Tennessee River at Gilbertsville, KY, Sept. 3, 1902. A section of the bridge burned and collapsed on July 4, 1903, and the bridge was out of service until July 8. Afterwards, construction of a new bridge began, which opened on July 10, 1905. IC company photographer, Cliff Downey collection.
Douglas Butler shared
Illinois Central RR Swing Bridge with approaching truss spans is located in Gilbertsville, KY credit to Illinois Central Railroad Scrapbook.

3
Illinois Central's new draw bridge across the Tennessee River is seen under construction on March 28, 1905. The new bridge will enter service on July 10, 1905. Illinois Central company photographer, Cliff Downey collection.