KB&S/(Big4+NKP(LE&W)) Bridge over the Wabash River at Lafayette, IN

(Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; 3D Satellite)

I've seen this view a few times but ignored it because it is yet another truss bridge. But I've decided that about the third time is a charm.

HalstEd Pazdzior posted

"Through Truss 2 Track bridge(currently single track) once shared by the New York Central and Nickel Plate railroads. Reconfiguration of adjacent SR 26 and CSX and NS tracks forced realignment of East approach causing removal of 1 track." [BridgeHunter]

Indiana State Department of Natural Resource, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology via Bridge Hunter

Journal and Courier: February 12 1959 via Bridge Hunter

Ray Gray posted
The Big Four Railroad took a trainload of passengers to West Lafayette moments before the Main Street levee broke, sending the river slamming through the bottom lands and further endangering the city of West Lafayette. Loaded coal cars were pulled onto the bridge. The added weight kept it from being swept away. but it was knocked five inches out of line by floating buildings. History does not precisely define the "fluffy-ruffle brigade", but when the railroad bridge was the only connecting link between the two towns, ingenious Purdue students jumped from coal car coal car to get across the flooded river to visit their girlfriends in Lafayette. Before the river subsided, the on-rushing waters washed out foundations beneath the piers, leaving the bridge suspended, and it also had to replaced.
[Flood of 1913]

Dave Cobb shared

Lew Morris commented on Ray's post
From the Journal & Courier, 1913 https://www.jconline.com/.../february-1913.../79592740/ Note that the little ferry is powered by a paddle wheel. 15 more photos on the link.

Lew Morris commented on Ray's post
Ol' Wabash is looking more little O'Miss.

Sep 21, 2022 Derailment

C Kent McKenzie posted seven photos with the comment: "Derailment today (9/21/2022) with significant damage to this old bridge in Lafayette, IN. This is a spur that runs west from the NS mainline, just south of the Amtrak station, next to the South Street bridge. I've seen speculation in other groups that this won't be repaired, as there is an alternate rail route to the served industries. Photos by Clayton St Martin."

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Brian Pruitt posted four photos with the comment: "Lafayette Indiana:  Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad. Tracks failed while pushing rail cars for storage. I formally nickelplate, conrail then NS rail bridge."

Eric DeHaan: How many cars got across before it fell in? Going to be interesting getting that fixed/who fixes it and get the cars back lol.

Brian Pruitt: Eric DeHaan I haven’t gone down there yet, but looks like three railroad cars that Norfolk Southern was going to store on kbs rail line for the Nucor steel plant in Crawfordsville.   Now it’s Norfolk Southern’s bridge and owns X amount of feet on the other side. It will be NS that will fix it.

Dan Kleinhenz: Looks like they were loaded with pig iron briquettes.

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Brian Pruitt commented on his post
Where is his hard hat at?

WISH-TV posted six photos with the comment: "BREAKING: A train derailed Wednesday afternoon on a Wabash River bridge on the border of West Lafayette and Lafayette, the Lafayette Police Department says. What we know: https://bit.ly/3S1IQkz?utm_medium=social..."

(Provided Photos/Jeff Ooms)

Michael Perigo shared

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