Railroad bridge swept away in flood

Evansville (IN) Courier-Press - January 12 2005

The flooding Wabash River has swept a portion of a Grayville (IL)
landmark downstream.

Sometime overnight Tuesday, floodwaters swept away the west end of
the former Illinois Central Railroad trestle. Witnesses Tuesday
night reported the aging span was making "loud groaning noises," and
feared the 100-plus year old bridge would collapse. The scene of the
collapse is about two miles south of Grayville, just upstream from
the twin I-64 bridges.

After the sun came up on Wednesday, motorists on nearby Interstate
64 could see that the west end of the bridge had been swept away.

Officials with the Illinois Department of Transportation are now
inspecting the twin I-64 bridges which are just downstream from the
trestle to ensure it was not damaged by tons of steel and wooden
pilings that were swept away by strong currents.

Local historians say the bridge was erected sometime in the 1880s
and was most recently used by the Indiana Hi-Rail line. The bridge
fell into disrepair after Indiana Hi-Rail went out of business.

No injuries were reported, and there were apparently no direct
witnesses to the collapse.

Well losing a historic bridge is very sad.

John

they still haven't cleaned it up.... it is still down in the river

Do you know where the missing span is? When I was there earlier this year, I got a lot of photos, but I certainly couldn't see the missing span. The rest of the bridge looks pretty solid though. Still, I doubt that the Browns, Grayville and Poseyville Railway will ever span it, though I sure hope I'm wrong and would love to eat my words.

Thomas

do you know where the First Illinois rest area is on I-64 the Skeeter Mountain Rest Area I believe is the official name, it is just east of there... on the westbound side it is North of there. Easier saw from heading westbound. Eastbound probably cannnot see due to the fact of the westbound side.


It has been a while since i have been through there, it could be removed by now, I was thinking it washed a little north from the looks of it. But like I said it has been a while and it could have been removed by now.