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| Name | CN Prairie School Road Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #D-182.7 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 102 Feet Total, 18 Foot Main Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1905 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | D-182.7 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 182.7 |
| Significance | Moderate 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 northeast of Spaulding, this concrete arch bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over Prairie School Road and an unnamed creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. In the early 20th Century, the IC made a number of upgrades to this line, replacing timber structures with concrete and steel structures. Built in 1905, the bridge consists of a three 18-foot and one 14-foot standard semicircular concrete arches, set onto concrete substructures and constructed at a width of 14 feet. The northernmost span over Prairie School Road runs at a skew, while the remaining spans use a standard shape. Because of this, the northern pier uses a triangular shape, with the west face far wider than the east face. The bridge uses an unusual design, where the tracks are supported in a concrete ballast channel, which rests directly on the arches. This design seems to have been used by the IC for longer arch structures, and is somewhat similar to the original design of another arch at Buckley, Illinois. It is currently unknown what contractor completed this structure. Concrete arches were popular for railroad use, as they were 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 this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique variation of a common design.
Citations
| Build date | Illinois Central Gulf Illinois Division 1978 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |