(Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023;
Historic Bridges;
John Marvig;
Satellite)
Brad Brown
posted two photos with the comment: "Illinois and Michigan canal around Lasalle il, don't know what line this was but the RI ran near this bridge. Tracks have been gone a long time."
Ed Brown: It was rail access to Utica Hydraulic Cement Co. In later years same plant was used by American Silica Sand Co. for cleaning and drying crude sand mined on north side (Rock Island main side). The crude sand went in by rail and shipped out by rail.
Immediately on south side of bridge was a switch leading to other industries and possibly interchange with Chicago, Ottawa, and Peoria inter -urban railway. In later years this track serviced Utica Elevator Co.
What was unique about the turnout on the south side of bridge, was switch points were on north side and remainder of turnout on south side of bridge. The rails between points and frog making it a gauntlet. Incidentally this track formed a very sharp tight radius curve as it swung off to the east.
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"This is an uncommon example of a double-intersection Warren pony truss." [BridgeHunter]
I'm surprised that such an old bridge is not pin-connected. This is a transition design. It uses rivets, but without gusset plates.
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| 7th of 11 photos in JohnMarvig |
Although the end connections for the upper chords do use gusset plates.
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8th of 11 photos in JohnMarvig
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Dennis DeBruler commented on Brad's post
The original route. 1966 La Salle Quad @ 24,000
The tracks are still on a 1979 topo, but not on a 1993 topo. |
I used this railroad branch as an opportunity to compare the Illinois aerial photo with the Federal aerials. Here is the Illinois aerial.
I was surprised that the oldest aerial in the Federal collection was 1956.
And since the government server was running good, I also got the highest-resolution photo that is available.
Keith Haskins
posted 10 images with the comment: "Old CRI&P spur bridge going over original I&M Canal."
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