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Cameron Rail Crossing

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Railroad Street and BNSF Railway
Cameron, Warren County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Cameron Rail Crossing
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 340 Feet Total, 120 Foot Main Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through and Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry, Concrete and Steel Bent
Dates Built 1903, 1905 and 1907
Traffic Count 75 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 186.45
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2015


This intricate bridge is a unique grade separated railroad crossing on the west side of Cameron.
The bridge is a heavily skewed and odd looking structure.
The structure has three main components. The west section, the middle section and the east section. In addition, its divided between two tracks.
The west section features two deck girder spans, built in 1899 and 1905. The west abutment is concrete and stone; and the pier is concrete and steel. It crosses Railroad Street. A second track was added in 1907.
The center section is a large through girder span, built in 1903 to cross the CB&Q (now BNSF) Tracks. The piers are stone, and the supporting piers are concrete. A second track was added in 1907.
The east section are two through girder spans, set on concrete. It was built in 1907, to cross a railroad expansion.
Overall, the bridge is in good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the intricacy of the structure.
The photo above is an overview. Unfortunately, less than ideal weather conditions made photos hard. I hope to come back soon.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Dated Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 1937 Bridge Book
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele