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Chicago and Alton Railroad Bridge

   

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Bridge Documented: 2008

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

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Key Facts

	Bridge Name	Facility Carried / Feature Intersected	Location	Structure Type	Construction Date and Builder/Engineer
	Chicago and Alton Railroad Bridge	Railroad (Chicago and Alton) Over South Fork South Branch Chicago River	Chicago: Cook County, Illinois	Metal 5 Panel Rivet-Connected Warren Through Truss, Movable: Bascule (Page) and Approach Spans: Metal Girder, Fixed	1906 By Builder/Contractor: American Bridge Company of New York, New York and Engineer/Design: W. M. Hughes of Chicago, Illinois

Technical Facts

Main Span Length	Structure Length	Roadway Width	Main Spans	Approach Spans
150 Feet (45.72 Meters)	214 Feet (65.23 Meters)	34.3 Feet (10.5 Meters)	1	1

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Data Pages, PDF

View The Original Patent For The Page Bascule Bridge

View A Detailed 1907 Article About This Bridge

View A Guide To The Canal Produced By Chicago and Alton Railroad

This bridge is an extremely rare example of a Page bascule bridge. The Page bascule's unusual appearance was a patented design in which the counterweight was built into the approach system. It is one of the only remaining examples left of this noteworthy and unusual movable bridge form. This bridge was also designed such that the machinery and other equipment actually acts as part of the bridge's counterweight. In a city that has more movable bridges than any other city in the world, this bridge stands out as one of the most unusual and unique movable bridges in Chicago.

The bridge was reportedly the first Page bascule railroad bridge ever built. It also was reported to be the largest bascule bridge in the world when built, a record that several of Chicago's bridges have held for (often brief) periods of time following their completion. The distinctively shaped curvy racks of this bridge (upon which the pinions run) were noted as the largest individual sections of structural steel ever fabricated to that date in Chicago. Although the Chicago and Alton Railway was the "lead railroad" in supervising the construction of the bridge, it was a joint project including the Illinois Central and Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroads as well. Wisconsin Central also had trackage rights upon completion of the bridge under Illinois Central. Work begun on  the bridge in March of 1905. The bridge was nearly completed by the end of the year. American Bridge Company was the superstructure contractor, with the steel coming from the Lassig plant in Chicago. G. P. Nichols and Brother of Chicago was the electrical contractor. Thomas Phee Company of Chicago was the substructure contractor. Kelly-Atkinson Construction Company of Chicago erected the superstructure.

The bridge was constructed as a replacement for a former bridge which was kept open during construction. The former bridge was a bobtail swing bridge dating to the 1880s. The construction plan included 24 hours to make the switch from the previous bridge to the new bridge, with an expectation that it would be done in only 10 hours. However, the previous bridge's pinned connections were more rusted that thought and they had difficulty getting them apart during demolition. As a result, it took nearly 25 hours before railroad traffic was again flowing.

Be sure to view the 1907 article (link provided at top of this narrative) which  includes several original engineering drawings of the bridge, several photos, and a detailed discussion of the bridge. This article provided the majority of information seen in this HistoricBridges.org narrative.

Sadly, this bridge no longer lifts for boats today. Worse, because of the unusual design of this bridge, it can be difficult to imagine how this bridge's parts work to move the bridge. Fortunately, there is a historical photo, shown to the right, which shows the bridge in its raised position which helps to show the manner in which the bridge lifts. Also note that the drawing shown at the top of this narrative has a shadow underlay that shows the bridge in the raised position.

The bridge is hard to photograph, but if you ride the CTA Orange Line and get off at the Ashland Station, views of this bridge can be had from the station platform.

The following text below and picture to the right are from The Bridgemen's Magazine Vol. 7, 1907, Digitized By Google. The accompanying pictures are of the Page Bascule bridge, erected at Bridgeport, Chicago, over the south fork of the Chicago River, better known as "Babbly Creek," to replace the Bridgeport draw. The contract for the superstructure was let to the American Bridge Company and the erection was done by Kelly-Atkinson Construction Company. T. C. Fisher was in charge of the work, which was done by the members of Local No. 1. It is the largest bascule bridge In the world, 150 feet in length and a total weight of 1,130 tons, divided as follows; 550-ton counterweight, 250 tons of which is cast iron and the remainder punchings, scrap iron, etc., mixed with concrete; 47 tons machinery and 530 tons structural steel. The rack guides are the largest pieces of structural steel ever turned out in Chicago, each weighing 70 tons and measuring over 75 feet in length. The work was done in very good time, considering the delay caused by traffic, for four lines of railway cross the span, running over 50 passenger trains during the working day of eight hours. Wishing you success, I am, Very truly yours, FRED F. BUCK. Monessen, Pa

Owner Plaque BUILT 1906 BY THE CHICAGO & ALTON RY. CO. G H KIMBALL  CHIEF ENGINEER W H HUGHES  CONSULTING ENG'R PAGE & SHNABLE  PATENTEES

Builder Plaque AMERICAN BRIDGE CO OF NEW YORK CONTRACTORS FOR SUPERSTRUCTURE THOMAS PHEE & CO CONTRACTORS FOR SUBSTRUCTURE

  

Information and Findings From Chicago Landmarks Designation General Information Address: East of Ashland Ave., North of Archer Ave. (South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River) Year Built: 1906 Architect: Page & Shnable Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: December 12, 2007 The Chicago & Alton Railway Bridge was constructed for the joint use of three railroads: the Chicago & Alton, the Illinois Central, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railways. Engineer, John W. Page of the firm, Page & Shnable, developed and patented the design of the bridge, which is known as a Page trunnion bascule. The Chicago & Alton Railway Bridge is significant for being the first of its kind erected for railroad use and it may be the only one left in existence. The superstructure is made from steel and operated by using two 124-horsepower motors mounted on a frame between two counterweights. These counterweights pivot and roll downward, tilting the bridge and giving it the appearance of the span rising effortlessly. The bridge's counterweights are contained within steel plates that visually blend with the structure giving it a graceful appearance. The bridge is visible from the Stevenson Expressway and Metra and Orange Line trains. Today, it is still in use, but its mechanism has been disabled, since it no longer is raised for navigational purposes. This Bridge Is A Designated Chicago Landmark Visit The Chicago Landmarks Website

Historic Bridges of Chicago and Cook County Browse Bridges In Google Maps This special map has bridge markers colored by bridge movable type. Complete Bridge List

Chicago and Cook County are home to one of the largest collections of historic bridges in the country, and no other city in the world has more movable bridges. HistoricBridges.org is proud to offer the most extensive coverage of historic Chicago bridges on the Internet.

Chicago / Cook County Bridge News

May 15, 2013 - The Ashland Avenue Bridge over North Branch Chicago River has been recommended for Chicago Landmark designation by the Chicago Art Deco Society.

April 30, 2013 - Illinois Landmarks has included Chicago's Bascule Bridges as one of their Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places. View The Official Page.

April, 2013 - The replacement of the outer trusses of the northern Wells Street Bridge bascule leaf is underway. The outer trusses of the southern bascule leaf has already been completed.

April 2013 - Spring Bridge Lifts Are Ongoing! The bridge lift schedule is available here.

Washington Boulevard Bridge - This bridge celebrates its 100th Anniversary on May 26, 1913! Click Here To View A Commemoration Article By ChicagoLoopBridges.com! (Alternate PDF Format)

General Chicago / Cook County Bridge Resources

Chicago's Bridges - By Nathan Holth, author of HistoricBridges.org, this book provides a discussion of the history of Chicago's movable bridges, and includes a virtual tour discussing all movable bridges remaining in Chicago today. The book includes dozens of full color photos. Only $9.95 U.S! ($11.95 Canadian). Order Now Direct From The Publisher!

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Overview of Chicago Bascule Bridges (HAER Data Pages, PDF)

Chicago Loop Bridges - Chicago Loop Bridges is another website on the Internet that is a great companion to the HistoricBridges.org coverage of the 18 movable bridges within the Chicago Loop. This website includes additional information such as connections to popular culture, overview discussions and essays about Chicago's movable bridges, additional videos, and current news and events relating to the bridges.

Additional Online Articles and Resources - This page is a large gathering of interesting articles and resources that HistoricBridges.org has uncovered during research, but which were not specific to a particular bridge listing.

Photos and Videos: Chicago and Alton Railroad Bridge

Available Photo Galleries and Videos

Click on a thumbnail or gallery name below to visit that particular photo gallery. If videos are available, click on a video name to view and/or download that particular video.

 

	Bridge Photo-Documentation Original / Full Size Photos	A collection of overview and detail photos. For the best visual immersion and full detail, or for use as a desktop background, this gallery presents the photos for this bridge in the original digital camera resolution.
	Bridge Photo-Documentation Mobile Optimized Gallery	A collection of overview and detail photos. View the photos for this bridge in a reduced size which is useful for mobile/smartphone users, modem (dial-up) users, or those who do not wish to wait for the longer download times of the full-size photos. Alternatively, view this photo gallery using a popup slideshow viewer (great for mobile users) by clicking the link below. Browse Gallery With Popup Viewer

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