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| Name | CN Bridge #114.1 Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #D-114.1 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 56 Feet Total, 14 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Slab |
| Substructure Design | Concrete Pile |
| Date Built | 1920 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | D-114.1 |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | 114.1 |
| Significance | Minimal Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/6/2022 |
In 1871, the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad (GC&S) completed 102 miles of new railroad, extending from the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) mainline at Gilman, Illinois to Springfield, Illinois. This route provided an underserved area in Central Illinois with a reliable railroad connection. In 1873, the GC&S would become bankrupt, and in 1877 would be acquired by IC subsidiary Chicago & Springfield Railroad (C&S). The C&S was formally consolidated into the IC in 1902, and IC significantly improved the track between Gilman and Springfield, constructing new bridges and realigning the railroad. Further improvements would be made in 1923, when a segment near Springfield would be double tracked. By the 20th Century, the IC was a respected railroad, operating an extensive railroad network through the central United States. Throughout the later part of the 20th Century, traffic on this line began to fall, and the line became more of a connecting line for the railroad. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). In 1988, the ICG was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1998, IC was purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, CN continues to operate this line as the Gilman Subdivision.
Located along Illinois Route 54 southwest of Gibson City, this standard concrete slab bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of Drummer Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1920, the bridge would be replaced by a four span concrete slab bridge, consisting of 14-foot spans set onto concrete substructures. The substructures use a concrete pile design, typical of Illinois Central Bridges from this era. During the late 1910s and early 1920s, the Illinois Central made significant upgrades to this route, replacing timber bridges with concrete structures. Concrete slab bridges became popular with railroads during the early 20th Century, as the spans could be constructed offsite, and installed with minimal interruption. The Illinois Central utilized a 14-foot standard span, which was mass produced for locations throughout the system. It is unknown if the bridge was constructed by railroad forces, or by a contractor.. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Some spalling can be noted throughout the superstructure. The author has ranked this bridge as being minimally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Illinois Central Gulf Illinois Division 1978 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |