NS North Main Street Bridge (Decatur)

Name	NS North Main Street Bridge (Decatur) Wabash Railroad Bridge #117
Built By	Wabash Railroad
Currently Owned By	Norfolk Southern Railway
Superstructure Contractor	Mississippi Valley Structural Steel Company of Decatur, Illinois
Substructure Contractor	Roy W. Christy of Decatur, Illinois
Length	60 Feet Total
Width	4 Tracks, 2 In Use
Height Above Ground	13 Feet 5 Inches
Superstructure Design	Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design	Concrete
Date Built	1933
Traffic Count	20 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	In Use
Wabash Railroad Bridge Number	117
Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge Number	376.09
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	10/21/2023

During the 1830s, the State of Illinois desired a railroad to serve population centers located in southern Illinois. In 1837, the Improvements Act was passed to fund the construction of four railroads, including one between Danville and Quincy. In 1838, the Northern Cross Railroad completed a new railroad line between Jacksonville, Illinois and Meredosia, Illinois. This railroad used iron straps, set onto wooden planks. In 1842, the railroad would be extended to Springfield, with work continuing east towards Decatur. The NCR was operated by the State of Illinois. In 1847, the 61 miles of railroad between Meredosia and Springfield would be sold to the Sangamon & Morgan Railroad (S&M). The S&M changed its name to the The Great Western Railroad (GWR) in 1853. The GWR completed an additional 120 miles of new railroad to the Wabash River at Attica, Indiana in 1853; reusing some of the old grade constructed by the Northern Cross Railroad. In 1865, the GRW was consolidated into the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway (TW&W).

In 1870, the Hannibal and Naples Railroad (H&N) constructed an additional 45 miles of new railroad, extending west from Bluffs, Illinois to Hannibal, Missouri. Between 1871 and 1872, the Hannibal and Central Missouri (H&CM) constructed 70 miles of new railroad line, extending from Moberly, Missouri to Hannibal, Missouri. The H&CM was merged into the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway (MKT) in 1873. The TW&W and H&N were consolidated into the Wabash Railway in 1876. The Wabash was merged into the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway (WStL&P) in 1886. This railroad entered bankruptcy in 1886, and was partitioned and sold in 1889. The line between Decatur and Hannibal was partitioned to the Wabash Eastern Railway, which was promptly combined into the Wabash Railroad. In 1897, the Wabash received rights to operate between Hannibal and Moberly on the MKT, where it connected to the Wabash line to Kansas City. This use allowed the Wabash to bypass the congested terminals of St. Louis.

The Wabash would become a respected railroad network in the Midwest, connecting Detroit with Kansas City. The Wabash Railroad was reorganized as the Wabash Railway in 1915. In 1923, the Wabash recieved exclusive rights to operate the Hannibal to Moberly segment of the line, and the Wabash purchased the line outright in 1941. The Decatur to Moberly line formed a portion of the principal Wabash mainline, which connected Kansas City with Detroit. The railroad would again be reorganized as the Wabash Railroad in 1941, and would be controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1964, the railroad was leased to the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W), and would be entirely acquired in 1970. In 1982, the N&W would merge with the Southern Railway to form Norfolk Southern Railway. Today, Norfolk Southern operates the Hannibal District between Decatur and Moberly.

Located in Decatur, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Wabash Railroad over North Main Street (southbound Business US Route 51). Prior to the construction of this bridge, a grade crossing existed at this location. Throughout the 20th Century, railroad and automobile had increased, and the crossing was considered a hazard. As a result, the City of Decatur worked with the Wabash to plan and construct a grade separation at this location. Contracts were approved in 1933, and the bridge would be constructed that year. The bridge consists of a 60-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The superstructure uses a typical design for the era, including a ballast floor constructed of parallel I-beams covered by a sheet metal deck. In addition, the superstructure uses a decorative steel railing, typical for grade separation bridges of this era. The abutments of the bridge are integral to large retaining walls, which were constructed to minimize the amount of excavation required. The bridge was constructed by local contractors, with Roy W. Christy constructing the abutments and erecting the superstructure, and Mississippi Valley Structural Steel Company fabricating the girders. This type of bridge was popular for grade separations, as it was cost effective, durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen few alterations. While the bridge was originally constructed for four tracks, the eastern track has since been removed. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Build date	Wabash Railroad Historical Society Archives
Builder (superstructure)	The Decatur Daily Review; June 9, 1933
Builder (substructure)	Railway Age; Volume 95, Issue 18
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

NS North Main Street Bridge (Decatur)

Decatur, Macon County, Illinois