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Vandruff Island Railroad Bridge (North)

Quadrangular Lattice Through Truss Bridge over Rock River
Milan, Rock Island County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Vandruff Island Railroad Bridge (North)
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois
Currently Owned By Iowa Interstate Railroad
Length 470 Feet Total, 160 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Quadrangular Lattice Through Truss
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Fabricated 1884
Date Erected Ca. 1924
Original Location Sylvan Slough Bridge; Rock Island, Illinois
Traffic Count 1 Train/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Significance Regional Significance
Documentation Date March 2015
In 1867, the Peoria and Rock Island Railway built a 91 mile line between Rock Island, Illinois and Peoria, Illinois.
The line was finished in 1871.
The name was changed to the Rock Island and Peoria Railway in 1877.

In 1903, the RI&P became a part of the much larger Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. The Rock Island used this as a branch line.
The line was abandoned as the Rock Island began to struggle in 1963. From Toulon south to Peoria became a public trail in 1989.
The line from Rock Island to Toulon was liquidated to local land owners. One section still exists, from Rock Island to Milan.
Currently it is operated by the Iowa Interstate Railroad.
02/25/23


This bridge is one of two IAIS bridges across the Rock River here. Both these are part of Vandruff Island.
Built in 1884 this bridge consists of three riveted Quadrangular Through Truss spans, set onto concrete substructures. Unlike the southern bridge, the northern bridge spans were originally built here. Since the 1884 construction, the bridge has been updated with concrete substructures and strengthened trusses.
This bridge currently consists of three 155' spans, set onto concrete substructures. It is possible that these substructures have stone components underneath. It is known that the bridge was strengthened in 1929, likely with a new floor.
While the builder of the bridge is assumed to be Lassig Bridge & Iron Works, this has not yet been confirmed.

The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the old age.
The photo above is an overview.

Rock River Railroad Bridges
Upstream IAIS Rock River Bridge
South Channel Vandruff Island Railroad Bridge (S)
Downstream Confluence with Mississippi River

Citations

Source Type

Source

Bridge History Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Structural Notes at the National Archives; College Park, Maryland
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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