Dubuque Rail Bridge

Dubuque Rail Bridge

The Dubuque Railroad Bridge.
Coordinates 42°29′55″N 90°39′01″W / 42.49861°N 90.65028°W / 42.49861; -90.65028Coordinates: 42°29′55″N 90°39′01″W / 42.49861°N 90.65028°W / 42.49861; -90.65028
Carries Single rail track
Crosses Mississippi River
Locale Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque, Illinois
Maintained by Canadian National Railway
Characteristics
Design Truss Bridge with Swing-span
History
Opened December 1868

The Dubuque Rail Bridge carries a single rail line across the Mississippi River between Dubuque, Iowa, and East Dubuque, Illinois, near river mile 580.

It is currently operated by Canadian National Railway. as a result of their 1999 purchase of Illinois Central Railroad.

History

The original swing bridge was constructed by Andrew Carnegie and operated by the Dunleith & Dubuque Bridge Company opening in December 1868,[1] primarily used by the Illinois Central Railroad.

The Dubuque Rail Bridge was rebuilt in the 1890s and has 5 spans and a swing-span. Because of a 150-foot bluff very close to the Mississippi riverbank on the Illinois side, the railroad tracks enter a 1/4-mile tunnel that curves 90-degrees to the south to allow trains to proceed along the tracks adjacent to the river south of the bridge.

See also

References

  1. Ringwalt, J.L. (1888). "Development of Early Transportation Systems in the United States". Retrieved 2008-08-08.

External links


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