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| Name | ICG Madden Creek Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #N-17.3 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Trails Of The Grand Prairie |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Length | 137 Feet Total, 30 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Steel Stringer and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1923, Approaches Replaced 1943 and 1948 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | N-17.3 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/6/2022 |
In 1869, the Monticello Railroad began construction on a new railroad line, extending east from Champaign. By 1872, the line would reach White Heath, Illinois. In 1873, the railroad would be merged into the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway (IB&W), which completed the 102-mile line to Havana, Illinois and an additional 31 miles from White Heath to Decatur. After the IB&W filed for bankruptcy in 1874, and the lines were auctioned to the Champaign, Havana & Western Railway (CH&W) in 1879. The line was soon leased to the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, and became part of the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) in 1886, when the IC leased the CH&W. The IC had constructed and acquired a large railroad network throughout the central United States, becoming a respected railroad. This line primarily served as a feeder line, connecting two IC mainlines. The line was primarily operated out of Clinton, where the IC had a large terminal. In addition, the IC operated large terminals at Champaign and Decatur, which this railroad connected to. The railroad was formally purchased by the IC in 1902, as the IC consolidated a number of lines.
During the 20th Century, this route primarily served as a branch line and a connection between the mainline at Clinton and the mainline at Champaign. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad
(GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). The line would be abandoned between Cisco and Decatur in 1977, and the line acquired by a grain elevator. Further segments would be abandoned between Havana and New Holland in 1981, Clinton to New Holland in 1982, Seymour to White Heath in 1984 and White Heath to Clinton and Cisco in 1985. The segment from Monticello to White Heath would be sold to the Monticello Railway Museum in 1987. Portions of the line from Seymour to Clinton were sold to preservationist David Monk, who created Heartland Pathways, an unimproved trail on the corridor. The Decatur Terminal Railway would acquire the Decatur to Cisco branch in 1993, and would sell the line to Decatur Central Railroad (DCC) in 2016. Today, DCC operates the segment from Decatur to Cisco, and the Monticello Railway Museum operates the segment from Monticello to White Heath. Portions of the line have become a trail, with the corridor owned by Heartland Pathways planned to be further developed into a trail.
Located west of White Heath, this steel stringer bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over Madden Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was initially built. In 1923, the center portion of the bridge would be replaced by a 30-foot steel stringer span, set onto timber pile piers. The timber components of the bridge were replaced in 1943 and 1948, giving the bridge its current configuration. The main span of the bridge is heavily constructed, and follows a standard design using two sets of four beams. American Bridge Company fabricated the main span, while the remainder of the bridge was constructed by railroad company forces. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Since the last reconstruction, the bridge has remained largely unchanged. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with significant deterioration to the timber ties and some caps of the bents. After abandonment, the right-of-way and structure was purchased by environmentalist and preservationist David Monk with the intention of developing a nature trail. These plans were never realized before his death in 2022, and the land has sat unused since. Currently, new plans to develop the right-of-way into a trail are being proposed, although it is unknown if this bridge will be reused or replaced. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |