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| Name | NS West Branch Drummer Creek Bridge Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge #341.41 |
| Built By | New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 40 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1948 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Lake Erie & Western Railroad Bridge Number | 827 |
| Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge Number | 341.41 |
| Significance | Minimal Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/6/2022 |
In 1872, the LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad (LM&B) constructed 36 miles of new railroad, extending from Lafayette, Indiana to the Illinois/Indiana State Line. At the same time, the LaFayette, Bloomington and Mississippi Railway (LB&M) constructed an additional 80 miles of railroad to Bloomington, Illinois. The two railroads would be reorganized into the Lake Erie and Western Railway Company in 1879. The railroad would be reorganized as the Lake Erie and Western Railroad (LE&W) in 1887, and the following year completed a 36 mile extension from Bloomington to Peoria, Illinois.
The LE&W had acquired a modest railroad network, with several lines throughout Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. This line served as the mainline for the railroad, connecting Lake Erie at Sandusky, Ohio to the Illinois River at Peoria. The LE&W came under the control of the New York Central Railroad (NYC) in 1900, and was sold to the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate) in 1922. This line served as a secondary line for the Nickel Plate, running roughly parallel to the Nickel Plate line between Lake Erie and St. Louis. In 1964, the Nickel Plate merged with the Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W), which merged with the Southern Railway in 1982 to form Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). NS abandoned the segment between Gibson City and Cheneyville in 1986, and sold the Cheneyville to Lafayette segment to the Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern Railroad (KBSR) in 1991. Today, NS continues to operate the Bloomington District between Peoria and Gibson City, and the KBSR continues to operate the Cheneyville to Lafayette section.
Located along Illinois Route 9 on the west side of Gibson City, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Nickel Plate over the West Branch Drummer Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1899, the bridge would be reconstructed with a 40-foot girder span. This bridge lasted until 1948, when it was replaced by the current bridge. The bridge consists of a 40-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The lower portion of the east abutment reuses stone from the previous bridge. This particular through plate girder span is unusual, as the tracks are set near the top of the structure. The girders of the bridge function as a ballast channel, and the floor is constructed of numerous parallel beams. The superstructure was fabricated by American Bridge Company, while the abutments were constructed by an unknown contractor. This type of bridge was occasionally used by railroads, although this particular variation seems to be uncommon. Girder bridges were popular with railroads, as they were simple, 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 minimally significant, due to the common design and newer age.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |