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| Name | NS Bridge #394.96 Wabash Railroad Bridge #731 |
| Built By | Wabash Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 25 Feet Total |
| Width | 3 Tracks, 2 In Use |
| Height Above Ground | 5 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1938 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Wabash Railroad Bridge Number | 731 |
| Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge Number | 394.96 |
| Significance | Minimal Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/21/2023 |
Between 1869 and 1870, the Decatur and East St. Louis Railroad (D&EStL) constructed 109 miles of new railroad, extending from Decatur, Illinois to East St. Louis, Illinois. At East St. Louis, the railroad connected with several other railroads. After completion in 1870, the railroad was merged into the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway (TW&W), which had constructed and acquired a mainline extending from Toledo, Ohio to Hannibal, Missouri via Decatur. The TW&W was merged 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 East St. Louis was sold to the Wabash Eastern Railway, which promptly was consolidated into the Wabash Railroad.
The Wabash would become a respected railroad network in the Midwest,
connecting Detroit with Kansas City. This line served as a principal mainline to St. Louis, where the line connected to another Wabash Line towards Kansas City. Because of the heavy use, the line was double tracked between Decatur and East St. Louis between 1905 and 1914. The Wabash Railroad was reorganized as the Wabash Railway in 1915. 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 Brooklyn District between Decatur and East St. Louis. Portions of the second track have been removed, primarily on the northern end of this line.
Located along Illinois Route 48 on the northeast side of Stonington, this small steel stringer bridge crosses an unnamed creek. The first bridge at this location was a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was built. In 1938, the bridge would be replaced with the current steel stringer bridge. The bridge consists of a 25-foot steel stringer span, set onto timber pile abutments. The bridge was constructed for three tracks, although only two tracks remain in use. The stringer spans utilize a standard late 1930s Wabash design, with inclined bracings between the stringers, which lead to a diagonal rivet pattern. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being minimally significant, due to the small size and newer age.
Citations
| Build date | Wabash Railroad Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |