Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | UP Corning Road Bridge Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Bridge #388 |
| Built By | Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 25 Feet Total |
| Width | 2 Tracks, Formerly 3 Tracks |
| Height Above Ground | 13 Feet 8 Inches |
| Superstructure Design | Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1918 |
| Traffic Count | 30 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Bridge Number | 388 |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 38.80 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/16/2022 |
In 1872, the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad constructed 107 miles of new railroad, extending from the Chicago suburb of Dolton, Illinois to Danville, Illinois. The railroad line roughtly paralleled the Illinois/Indiana border. The CD&V would be consolidated into the Chicago and Nashville Railroad in 1877, which would be consolidated into the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad (CE&I) the same year. The CE&I provided a connection to industries and coal in southern Illinois and Indiana, and became a strong connecting railroad. By 1888, traffic had reached levels which required a second track to be constructed. The entire route between Dolton and Woodland Junction would be double tracked by 1895. In 1902, the St. Louis-San Fracisco Railway (Frisco) purchased a controlling stake in the CE&I, and funded the Eastern Illinois and St. Louis Railroad Company (EI&StL). The EI&StL constructed an 82-mile cutoff between Woodland Junction and another CE&I line at Villa Grove, Illinois, which would be completed in 1904. By 1913, the Frisco faced financial trouble, and the CE&I was again independent. The CE&I entered bankruptcy in 1933, exiting bankruptcy in 1940.
In 1961, the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MP) began purchasing stock in the railroad, before merging with the CE&I in 1967. As a stipulation of the merger, the Woodland Junction to Evansville line would be sold to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N). The MP and L&N began joint operations on the double tracked segment between Dolton and Woodland Junction. The MP was merged
into the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1982. The L&N was absorbed by the Seaboard Coast Line the same year, becoming part of the Seaboard System Railroad. The Seaboard merged with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad/Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to form CSX Transportation in 1986. Today, CSX and UP jointly operate the line between Dolton and Woodland Junction. UP operates the line between Woodland Junction and Villa Grove, while CSX operates the line between Woodland Junction and Danville. The line is known to UP as the Villa Grove Subdivision, and to CSX as the Woodland Subdivision.
Located south of Beecher, this standard steel stringer bridge carries the former Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad over Corning Road. It is believed that the first bridge at this location was likely a timber trestle. In 1918, the bridge would be reconstructed with a three track structure. The bridge consists of a 25-foot steel stringer span, set onto concrete abutments. The superstructure uses a design with four beam lines, arranged in two sets of two. The abutments use a standard design, with wing walls which extend perpendicular to the track. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed the substructure. This type of bridge was popular for railroad use, as it was durable, economical and easy to construct. The easternmost track was removed from the bridge in approximately 1950, leaving two tracks in use. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with significant spalling on the abutments. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |