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| Name | CN N1000E Road Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #D-102.1 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 36 Feet Total, 30 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 12 Feet 0 Inches |
| Superstructure Design | Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1911 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | D-102.1 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 102.1 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/6/2022 |
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 Melvin, this steel stringer bridge crosses N1000E Road (County Road 4). It is unknown if there was a bridge at this location prior to the construction of the present structure. This bridge was built in 1911, and consists of a 30-foot steel stringer span, set onto concrete abutments. The steel stringer span was fabricated by the American Bridge Company, while the substructure was either constructed by an unknown contractor or railroad forces. The bridge runs at a heavy skew, and the abutments were constructed for two tracks. It is not believed that a second track was ever installed. The abutments of the bridge utilize a standard Illinois Central design, with stepped wing walls that are perpendicular to the track. This type of bridge was popular among railroads, as it provided a durable and easy to construct design. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Some spalling can be noted throughout the substructure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Illinois Central Railroad Valuation Engineering Field Notes at the National Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |