Railroad construction workers work on bridge 205.5. The bridge is still in a skeletal stage, its supports still braced. Martin Collection
Roger, I am guessing from the water tower and other tower on the upper level that this is one RR line over another bridge. Also guessing from the condition of the ballast and rails of the lower level, that this was the Big Four main line. What road is going over the top? :tb-confused:
Roger, I don’t think it was the Wabash. The only RR in or close Terre Haute were the NYC, PRR, C&EI and Milwaukee, that I know, and they all had level meets in town. I could be wrong; lord knows I have been many times before. inch
Hmmm! Well, I think you're right about the Wabash. I just checked several maps and none show the Wabash. However, I stand by my Big Four construction. (I have to, don't I.)
Roger, I’m not saying the picture wrong, just the Wabash. I still can’t figure out where the picture would have been taken around Terre Haute, with the city being on the high river bottoms and no cut inside the city proper. The only place I can think was up by the Merkle Mill dam in N Terre Haute [Google maps; 39 degree 31’ 41.80” N – 87 degree 20’ 34.76 W ] where the line comes out of the bottoms on to the flats. I still haven’t figured out what other RR would have crossed there, unless it was a long gone coal spur or an inter-city line that would have went north-south. I’m hoping some-one else has an idea or a good map from that time. Like I said I’ve been wrong before, just ask the wife inch
I have seen this pic before on the web and wondered about where this might be located. My best guess would be the Cairo line over the PRR in Marshall, IL. The PRR did upgrade to double track and realigned their old Vandalia line during that time frame. It is would also explain what looks like a fresh cut embankment. Just guessing.
