BNSF/CB&Q Hanging Bridge in Chicago, IL

(3D Satellite)

Dennis DeBruler commented on Robert's post (below)

Behind the "last train" is a structure that holds up the west side of the overpass because the tracks underneath are too dense for a pier. Aug 12, 2018

https://www.google.com/.../@41.8553455,-87.../data=!3m1!1e3

Mario Scaduto: Dennis DeBruler I remember using that east leg of the wye for head room when switching BNSF Western Ave yard. My thought was always how many tracks came together in just this small area, at different grades, and by a few different legacy RRs! So typical of an era when so many Class Is operated in Chicago.

 

Luke Malin posted
A pair of classic BNSF Dash 9s hoist a stack train up the elevated BNSF connection at the location known as Stengem. This track carries trains over the parallel NS and CSX mainlines that run north-south along Western Ave. This Q-FTMNSA will join the NS for interchange at their Ashland Ave Yard. Chicago, IL 4/22/2024

Nathan Mackey: We always referred to it as the CJ connector but that was when it was all hand throw switches and way before CP Cermak ever existed.

Ryan Sykes posted three photos with the comment: "One of the more unique railroad bridges in Chicago. Originally built for the CB&Q. Nicknamed the hanging bridge. Taken 08/25/24."

Ronald Harder: Don't look like this gets much traffic.

Jeff Woodrick: Ronald Harder lots of traffic on that Ns/BN Cicero transfers, 18th & Western to industry lead , The Bridge has a 5MPH restriction.

Ken Walker: I go by that every day on Metra. That gets used quite a bit by crews entering and leaving Clyde Yard plus through freights.

Mike Goggans: Taking that bridge to the BNSF is always a little worrisome with a newer engineer ( especially when we don't have excess power which is like all the time )

Richard Gray: Looking north at BNSF connection to NS/CJ to Ashland Ave, and CSXT/BOCT, and NS/Panhandle…..all lines running north to Ogden Jct

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Checking out Jeff's comment, there is even a train headed for that connection. The hanging bridge is in the middle of the right side of this excerpt.

Satellite

Robert Jordan posted
8/9/2010, Last day for Central Illinois Railroad Lumber District, think this is where they come off ramp to go north to BNSF or?

Rob Olewinski Cmraseye commented on Robert's post
ha...clicked at the same time standing to the right of you!

Larry Candilas posted six images with the comment:

The Burlington "Hanging" Bridge"

Just to the west of the ex CB&Q Western Ave yard in Chicago is one of the more unique railroad structures I've ever seen even after working on a railroad for 15 years. The CB&Q crossed over the Chicago Junction, B&OCT, and the PRR Panhandle line and in order to have aa east to south interchange they had to construct this strange creation. It's still there but looks like it'd be hard to get to. Here's a 1926 Raiway Age article about it when it opened but it's a little hard to read. I'll try posting the pdf in the files.

David Daruszka shared

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UP/Denver & Rio Grande has a famous hanging bridge. I think it is neat that BNSF/CB&Q has one in Chicago. During a field trip to Chicago, I made a point to get some photos of it. In addition to the one above, here are some others that I took on that trip.

In this overview, I made a point to include the two water towers and smokestack that still stand on the east side of the tracks. In the background we see Willis/Sears Tower.

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When I went from the east side to the west side along 21st Street, I noticed this view. I stopped to take it to get another view of the two water towers and smokestack as well as the hanging bridge support and the "L" going over railroads. If somebody ever builds on this property, this view won't be available.

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All of the photos I took in this area are here.

Ean Kahn-Treras posted

07/02/21

Empty coal buckets from West Olive, MI patiently await their slot thru the logjam at Western Ave and Cermak in a remarkably unnamed spot in Chicago.

These trains originate as loads out in the Powder River Basin and use BNSF rails from Wyoming to Chicagoland. BNSF crews most often take them down this connection onto the CSX Blue Island Sub til 71st St, where a CSX crew bound for Michigan will take over. The trains then hang a turn onto the BRC at Forest Hill/75th St. From there they take the Belt til its end at Rock Island Jct/CP 509 where it fades into the NS Chicago Line. Eastbound from there they hit CP 482 where CSX rails begin once again in the form of the former Pere Marquette trackage across western Michigan. Empty trains take the reverse routing, and we witness a capture of such an empty nearly ready to regain BNSF rails.

An eastbound oil train bound for the NS Chicago Line via the Canal St Wye and CP521 is in the way for the moment at the bottom right on the BNSF Chicago Sub. Union Pacific's IG3SK in turn is being stabbed by the empty coal train coming off CSX's Blue Island Sub. IG3SK will eventually hit 71st St, get recrewed with a CSX crew and become Q192. Another movement is on the bottom left in the form of a northbound empty tank car train heading up the Chicago Junction. This one is bound for the Union Pacific Rockwell Sub just ahead at 14th St where NS ownership ends.

[Note the "hanging bridge" on the left side of the photo.
This post has lots of interesting comments about junction names, train routings, etc.]