Rating:
4 votes

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge

Bartholomew County, Indiana

Photos 

I believe this bridge was near Mill Race Park. Don't know if it is still there.

Photo taken by Anthony Dillon

Enlarge

BH Photo #136193

Map 

Facts 

Overview
Through truss bridge over Flatrock River on Louisville and Indianapolis Railroad in Columbus
Location
Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana
Status
Open to traffic, steps made to replace because of height restrections
Future prospects
Rail line is rumored to possibly be utilized by CSX Transportation as well(via either trackage rights or run through freight) for future intermodel double stack container route between Louisville and Chicago which would doom this bridge due to it's height restrictions. Rumors mention many bridge replacement projects on this line in the next few years.
History
Once part of the Pennsylvania Railroad's route between Indy and Louisville, later used by Amtrak for it's Floridian and Southwind trains to Florida, and much later the Kentucky Cardinal. Today owned by the Louisville and Indiana Railroad.
Railroads
- Amtrak (AMTK)
- Conrail (CR)
- Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC)
- Penn Central Railroad (PC)
- Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)
Design
Pin-connected Pratt through truss
Also called
PRR - Flatrock River Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.21658, -85.92873   (decimal degrees)
39°12'60" N, 85°55'43" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/592480/4341358 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Columbus
Inventory number
BH 41924 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Amtrak (443)
Bartholomew County, Indiana (62)
Columbus, Indiana (21)
Conrail (861)
Doomed (1,032)
Flatrock River (31)
Indiana (4,260)
Louisville & Indiana Railroad (11)
Open (37,239)
 Owned by railroad (10,422)
Penn Central Railroad (549)
Pennsylvania Railroad (539)
Pin-connected (3,528)
Pratt through truss (4,708)
Pratt truss (8,187)
Railroad (13,783)
Through truss (13,190)
Truss (29,898)

Update Log 

  • February 10, 2016: New photos from J.P.
  • April 19, 2015: Updated by Luke: Checked "Scheduled for demolition" box per Ed Hollowell's forum comment
  • December 18, 2014: New photos from cory coffey
  • December 17, 2011: Updated by J.P.: Added category "Pin-connected"
  • August 23, 2011: New photos from Chris Wanninger
  • August 15, 2011: Updated by James Norwood: added railroad history and possible future problems.
  • August 13, 2011: Updated by Luke Harden: Updated status
  • February 14, 2010: Updated by Anthony Dillon: Added GPS coordinates
  • March 29, 2009: Added by Anthony Dillon

Sources 

  • Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
  • Luke
  • James Norwood
  • Chris Wanninger
  • cory coffey
  • J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
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Comments 

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge
Posted April 25, 2018, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

This has been in the making for some time, and a shame nonetheless. The railroads unfortunately have no interest in preserving historic bridges.

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge
Posted April 24, 2018, by J.P. (wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com)

More information on replacement.

http://columbusrailroadproject.org/flat-rock-river-bridge-tr...

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge
Posted November 28, 2017, by John Marvig (marvigj27 [at] gmail [dot] com)

Replacement scheduled 2018

http://www.therepublic.com/2017/01/13/which_train_crossingre...

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge
Posted February 10, 2016, by J.P. (wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com)

visited bridge, as of right now, its still standing with no signs of construction.

LIRC - Flatrock River Bridge
Posted February 6, 2016, by Anonymous

Does anyone know if they have started to remove this bridge. James and myself will be in columbus this week and was going to to try and get some final shots before its removed.

Here is an article noting the bridges future removal.

http://insiderlouisville.com/business/licsx-ink-deal-share-l...

LIRC Flatrock River Bridge
Posted November 3, 2014, by Ed Hollowell (erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com)

It isn't that easy, it seems.

The US DOT Surface Transportation Board has to pass on this transaction and they need an environmental review.

http://www.stb.dot.gov/Decisions/readingroom.nsf/WEBUNID/053...

Chapter 4 covers remediation for adverse effects of what CSX is proposing to do with the line and some of that has to do with the Flatrock bridge.

Most Important-

"4.3.4 Historic Preservation

MM 11. CSXT and L&I shall retain their interest in and take no steps to alter the historic integrity of the Flatrock River Bridge until a Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement, which memorializes that completed bridge documentation resolves adverse effects of the undertaking, has been executed among the Indiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), CSXT, L&I,and the Board."

LIRC Flatrock River Bridge
Posted December 4, 2013, by Merrill Henderson (mshduke [at] yahoo [dot] com)

This bridge is most indeed still standing and used several times daily. It is the main line into Columbus from the railroad yard north of town along S.R.11. After crossing this bridge the tracks run south along Mill Race Park and then goes across White River and on south to Seymour.

LIRC Flatrock River Bridge
Posted November 11, 2013, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Sad to hear...but nothing we can do about it

Flatrock River Railroad Bridge
Posted November 11, 2013, by Ed Hollowell (erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com)

I am hearing reports that clearing work is being done around the bridge as of Nov. 8, 2013. Backhoes and bobcats mostly. It looks like time is short.

Flatrock River Railroad Bridge
Posted September 10, 2011, by Ed Hollowell (erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com)

I am hearing on one of the railroad boards that CSX has bought the line from L & I and planing a $100m upgrade. They want to run intermodal containers on the line next year which will mean a replacement of this bridge in the near future. (months) If you want to see it, do it quickly.

Flatrock River Railroad Bridge
Posted August 23, 2011, by Chris Wanninger

There is a bike trail in Noblitt Park that runs under the southern approach to this bridge. As I walked along a path from it to the rivers edge, there were constant creaks and popping coming from the tracks. It was very spooky, even in the daylight.

Flatrock River Railroad Bridge
Posted August 13, 2011, by Chris Wanninger (hvlcmw [at] live [dot] com)

I was just at this bridge and it is intact, but not abandoned. It looks like its used regularly, and even had some new handrails and walkway repaired. I'll add some pictures soon.