1906-1987 Milwaukee/Chicago Southern Railway Jenkins Ford High Bridge over Vermilion River near Danville, IL

(Bridge Hunter; Satellite, a couple of miles east of Westville, IL over the Vermilion River)

BridgeHunter
A view of the trestle and the then current mode of transportation. The bridge that they will cross is barely visible on the other side of the trestle towers.

Better resolution:

Michael Rogner posted
Vermilion River bridge south of Danville at Jenkins Ford during the Walsh era. View is more or less southwest. Right side of trestle looks like it's hanging in mid air, but there is an embankment there, just kind of washed out in the photo. This area is covered with trees now.

eBook via BridgeHunter, 1908

While paging through the eBook to find a page number for the above photo (page 601), I found some more photos of this bridge.

Digitized by Google, p173

Digitized by Google, p475

Digitized by Google, p553

Digitized by Google, p601

An artist rather obviously added a work train to the above photo.

Postcard via BridgeHunter

The footing by the river is almost covered up by trees.

Satellite

Jim Bryant posted seven images with the comment:

Jenkins Ford Bridge, east of Westville, Illinois, was built in 1906 for the Chicago Southern Railway; removed in 1987. In its day it was considered the tallest bridge in Illinois. Built by Chicago Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois (also known as Chicago Bridge & Iron Co).. Railroads lines that operated in its day were  the Chicago Southern Railway (CSRY)- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (MILW),  Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern Railway (CTH&S)

Design

Deck plate girder

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 200.0 ft.

Total length: 1,600.0 ft.

Tim Shanahan shared

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The removal of the bridge in early 1980's.

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Construction of both bridges in 1906.

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This picture was taken in1906. This was the south bridge which provided a right of way for civilians to get across the river. To the right and adjacent was the railroad bridge which is seen at the right of the picture.

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The aerial view was taken in 1940.

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The same overhead view from what it looks like presently, the blue line showing where the railrlroad line ran. Two concrete girders are barely visible just past Vermilion River.

James Langley posted two images with the comment: "Milwaukee Road trestle over the Vermilion River outside of Danville, IL. Photo was taken in the early 80’s and unfortunately the trestle has now been dismantled and only exists in photos."

Michael Roegner: At one time after it was abandoned the county considered making it a highway bridge to replace the Jenkins Ford highway bridge dismantled in 1964. Nothing came of the idea.

John Green: What was the nearest town other than Danville?

Dennis DeBruler: John Green It is east of Westville, https://maps.app.goo.gl/r76AtHS1qsnEPmt87.

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[He has North at the bottom.]

This map shows the road bridge as well.

1950/60 Danville SE Quad @ 24,000

ToDo:

Digitized by Google, p177