Rating:
9 votes

CSX - Wildcat Creek Trestle

Carroll County, Indiana

Photos 

Overview

Photo taken by Chris Clouser

BH Photo #102713

Map 

Video 

Removal - March 22, 2013

Play video on YouTube

Description 

Built as part of Monon's Indy to Chicago line, abandoned by CSX in the early 1990's. Damaged when pier was undercut by high waters causing part of structure to lean.

Facts 

Overview
Abandoned Deck girder over Wildcat Creek on former Monon Railroad north of Owasco
Location
Carroll County, Indiana
Status
Removed
History
Built 1893; abandoned in 1992; main span damaged by high water in 2004; removed in 2013
Railroads
- CSX Railroad (CSX)
- Chicago, Indianapolis, & Louisville Railway (CIL)
- Louisville & Nashville Railroad (LN)
- Monon Railroad (MON)
Design
Deck plate girder
Dimensions
Total length: 1,278.0 ft.
Also called
L&N - Wildcat Creek Trestle
Monon - Wildcat Creek Trestle
Approximate latitude, longitude
+40.46723, -86.63113   (decimal degrees)
40°28'02" N, 86°37'52" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/531271/4479682 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Pyrmont
Inventory number
BH 15887 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (9,635)
Built 1893 (258)
Built during 1890s (3,388)
CSX Railroad (1,860)
Carroll County, Indiana (105)
Chicago, Indianapolis, & Louisville Railway (21)
Deck girder (6,618)
Girder (11,662)
Indiana (5,237)
Lost (31,819)
Lost 2013 (387)
 Lost during 2010s (3,680)
Louisville & Nashville Railroad (306)
Monon Railroad (29)
Owned by railroad (14,143)
Plate girder (9,176)
Railroad (17,003)
Steel Trestle (153)
Tall Bridges (327)
Total length 1000-2500 feet (2,049)
Wildcat Creek (18)

Update Log 

  • November 7, 2017: New video from Jacob P. Bernard
  • July 19, 2013: Updated by Alexander D. Mitchell IV: Bridge has been demolished.
  • August 27, 2012: New photos from Jacob P. Bernard
  • August 4, 2010: New photo from Ed Hollowell
  • March 30, 2010: Updated by Ed Hollowell: Corrected lenght, "Railroads of Indiana" has it wrong
  • March 28, 2010: Updated by Ed Hollowell: Added Information
  • December 28, 2009: Updated by James Norwood: Updated status and builder info
  • October 11, 2009: Updated by J.P.: updated builder and year built
  • July 9, 2008: Updated by Paul Brandenburg
  • June 26, 2008: Updated by Paul Brandenburg: name changed to common county usage
  • April 24, 2006: Posted photos from Chris Clouser

Related Bridges 

Sources 

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Comments 

CSX - Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted March 20, 2017, by Randy (rlaguire [at] gmail [dot] com)

Can anyone tell if this bridge is the Monon High bridge or the Wildcat Creek Trestle?

Owasco Railroad Bridge
Posted July 7, 2013, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Surprised it stood as long as it did.

Owasco Railroad Bridge
Posted July 7, 2013, by R&F

Paddled by there today, actually most of it is torn down now, including the two main pillars in the creek. Looks eerie really! Saw a caterpillar standing there and some welding equipment so it looks like they're taking it down completely.

Owasco Railroad Bridge
Posted August 21, 2011, by Kathy (knoel [at] noellaw [dot] com)

We paddled under the bridge today - amazing bridge! Does anyone know its actually height?

Owasco Railroad Bridge
Posted February 17, 2011, by Randy D. Pillion (r-j-n-j-pillion [at] att [dot] net)

Follow this link to more photos of this piece of Americana!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091329&id=1149863332&...

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted January 13, 2011, by Ed Hollowell (erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com)

There are recent photos of this bridge at http://indianarailroads.org/board/index.php?topic=1485.15

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted August 6, 2010, by Ed Hollowell (erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com)

As much of it as I could see was still there, which wasn't a lot. The brush and foliage was just too much to deal with in the time I had available. I hope to be able to go back in another season when the viewing will be both better and easier!

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted August 4, 2010, by Cliff Darby (clif30 [at] hotmail [dot] com)

So this beauty is still standing as of July 2010

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted January 19, 2010, by JOEL (JAMOSKE [at] AOL [dot] COM)

HELLO IS THIS BRIDGE STILL STANDING?. SEEMS TO BE IN VERY BAD SHAPE?

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted December 15, 2008, by James

Thanks for the update, I am very suprized it still stands after the rain Carroll County has received this past year. I hope it lasts, maybe one day it could be corrected, probably not. Long live the Monon, Jay

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted November 30, 2008, by Brant Furr (bfurr [at] monm [dot] edu)

Still Standing, as of Nov. 29, 2008.

Owasco Monon Trestle
Posted July 19, 2008, by RL Bozell (jrbozell45 [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Still standing as of July 19th, 2008

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted January 2, 2008, by Doug Chapman (upsers59 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Is it still standing?

Doug

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted July 11, 2007, by christian bentley (cjbdiesel [at] aol [dot] com)

the wildcat trestle is old and in bad shape I wonder if it will be used again?

christian b.

ps:get me some pictures when it falls

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted July 11, 2007, by christian j bentley (cjbdiesel [at] aol [dot] com)

its in bad shape I hope it doesent fall any time soon

christian b.

p.s where does it end?and get a picture when it falls

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted July 11, 2007, by christian j bentley (cjbdiesel)

the bridge is in good shape exept the callapsing part it should be fixed and used.

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted June 20, 2007, by Mike Smith (road_dog_blues [at] yahoo [dot] com)

I am from around Frankfort but now reside in Elkhart In. Anyway I walked the bridge two summers ago it is a cool place to visit if ya like this kinda stuff!! Thanks for the pictures. I hope others will take the time to look at them.

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted May 18, 2007, by cassie (lclzgarling [at] earthlink [dot] net)

I grew up near this bridge. It holds a lot of memories for me and my family. I just visited it for the first time in a decade. I went to say good bye and take some last pictures. It is in bad shape. I will hate to see it come down.

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted May 17, 2007, by Doug Chapman (doulasc [at] yahoo [dot] com)

When it does come down please send me some

photos or post them here on the site.

Thanks

Doug Chapman

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted April 18, 2007, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Just looked at your pics and I agree, I think that one section could go at any time. Then we'll have what looks like a minature Kinzua viaduct in Indiana.

Wildcat Creek Trestle
Posted April 17, 2007, by Chris Clouser (morpar55 [at] hotmail [dot] com)

As of April 15, 2007 this trestle was still standing, but it appears it won't be for long. The abutment in the center of the creek moved during high water earlier this spring, and these photos show the result. Looks to me like it will only take one more good rain and this one will be coming down!

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