C&O Wabash River bridge
Photo
Map of bridge location showing remaining piers
Train track had severe curves either side, only piers and abutments remain today near Peru Electric Plant on Peru's East side. Notice the large log jam against Northern piers.
Map by James Norwood and Google Earth
Brief History and Photo Links
Written by James Norwood
Peru was once a busy division point on the C&O of Indiana. Amtrak's Cardinal once graced the rails on this line as well. Welded rail and many curves were the trademarks of this line. Amtrak pulled out in 1986 and CSX rerouted trains to another line in Ohio and Northern Indiana causing most of the line to quickly be abandoned and tore out. Most of the bridges on this line were removed in the process. This bridge had a severe curve on either approach to get over the river and North side was built over old Wabash and Erie Canal right of way through Peru. Here are links to two views taken from the back of a Amtrak train as it crossed over the bridge http://candoindiana.com/historic/5peru_wabashbridgesouth.jpg
http://candoindiana.com/historic/5peru_wabashbridgenb.jpg
Another link to photo
Written by James Norwood
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=820003
Amtrak looks to be going Westbound coming into Peru in this Alan Gaines shot.
Facts
- Overview
- Lost Deck plate girder bridge over Wabash River on abandoned CSX Transportation (former Chesapeake and Ohio of Indiana Railroad) in Peru
- Location
- Peru, Miami County, Indiana
- Status
- Lost
- History
- Part of the C&O's line from Chicago to Cincinnati, the bridge had two extreme curves on both side approaches and was removed after line was abandoned in late 80's or early 90's. Piers & abutments remain.
- Design
- Deck plate girder
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +40.75484, -86.05151 (decimal degrees)
40°45'17" N, 86°03'05" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/580064/4511975 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Peru
- Inventory number
- BH 42315 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- April 28, 2009: Essay added by James Norwood
- April 11, 2009: Essay added by James Norwood
Comments
Thank you James this was very helpfull!
Here you go Everett, a little research and you can find all kinds of info. I started a page just for this bridge, The IC Riverton bridge, with info I have found. Access it at http://bridgehunter.com/in/sullivan/bh43682/
Tell your Grandson I said Good Luck! Take care, James
Everett, check out this link for a pic of the bridge you are talking about. http://www.davehonan.com/in/wabash02l.jpg
I believe that railroad line is an old Illinois Central line now ran by the "Indiana Railroad" company. Hope this helps with his project.
I am trying to find some info about the railroad bridge that crosses from Palestine, IL to Riverton, IN for grandson history project. Last time I was there it still had the gears that rotated the bridge for river traffic years ago. Thank you for any info you have.
another view of this bridge is available here
zoom in to 100% image size, and it is visible through the left side arches of the street bridge in forground
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/in/miami/bh42315/