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| Name | CN Lake Fork Creek Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #D-175.4 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 355 Feet Total, 62 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Concrete Slab |
| Substructure Design | Concrete, Concrete Pile and Steel Pile |
| Date Built | 1908 (Main Span) 1922 (Approaches) 1935 (North Pier and 12 Foot Span) 1953 (South Pier and 12 Foot Span) |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | D-175.4 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 175.4 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/17/2024 |
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 Lake Fork, this through girder bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over Lake Fork Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1908, a through girder span was installed, retaining timber pile trestle approaches. With the exception of the piers carrying the through girder span and one adjacent trestle span, the remainder of the bridge was reconstructed with standard concrete slab spans and concrete pile bents in 1922. In 1935, the north pier was reconstructed with a new concrete pier, and a 12-foot concrete slab was installed between the girder and the south approach. In 1953, the south pier was reconstructed with a steel pile pier, and a 12-foot concrete slab span was installed between the girder and south approach, giving the bridge its current configuration.
Currently, the bridge consists of a 62-foot through plate girder span, approached by concrete slab spans on either end. The south approach uses fifteen 14-foot and one 12-foot concrete slab span, while the north approach uses four 14-foot and one 12-foot span. The through girder utilizes a standard IC design, including a traditionally composed floor and rounded ends. The slab spans appear to be standard IC spans, and were likely constructed by the railroad company. It is unknown what contractor fabricated the main span, or which contractor constructed the north pier. Through girder spans were popular for railroad use, as they were durable and easy to construct. Concrete slab spans became popular in the early 20th Century, as they could be fabricated offsite and installed with minimal interruption to traffic. Concrete pile bents became a standard IC design in the early 20th Century, as the piles could be mass produced and were far stronger than timber piles. 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.
Citations
| Build dates | Illinois Central Gulf Illinois Division 1978 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |