First train to cross the Mississippi River

Classic Trains General Discussion
1

Does anyone know the name or have any pictures of the first train to cross the Mississippi River via the Rock Island Bridge.

2

Have you had a look at this site ?
http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/rockislandhistory/govtbridge.htm
It does not show the first train but it does show the first bridge.

3

[:)]

4

I greatly appreciate the help, but i have already seen that website. I made a computer model of that old bridge and now I want to make a computer model of the train that went over the bridge first.

5

There are quite a few photos and paintings of the Eads bridge that may help determine what may have run across the Rock Island bridge at that time period. Just Google “Eads Bridge” and that should get you a few pics.

6

Would have beena run of the mill 4-4-0 try RITS if you want a specific answer ( might be there) Or Augustana College has a site about railroad history in the area. I am not sure if that plaque has the first train on it or not. never got a chance to stop and see it.

7

Here’s a small scrap of information that might help - From This Fascinating Railroad Business - Henry pp. 111

" Two weeks after the first locomotive, the Des Moines, passed over the bridge into Iowa, a steamboat passing upstream under the bridge got out of control and drifted against one of the piers."

8

While it isn’t the engine, there is a picture of the first engine operated in Iowa on pp. 115 of Starr’s book - Lincoln and the Railroads (1927). The picture doesn’t have sufficient resolution to show the name and the caption does say the engine was ferried across the river from Illinois in July 1855, however, it is a Rock Island engine so there is a chance it may be representative of the one that did cross into Iowa on the bridge.

9

First locomotive across the river was the 4-4-0 Antoine Leclaire. Ferried across the river to take care of buisness on the Iowa side.
Just got a book today at the antique store with that tidbit of info in it. The effie didnt drift but love that little bit of info in that story.( hard to drift into a pier while going up stream under power )

10

150th Bridge Celebration
September 14th – 18th, 2006
http://www.riveraction.org/nuke73/index.php

National Archives:
“On April 22, 1856… three steam locomotives pull eight passenger cars…” http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/bridge.html

11

Party near my house!!! Which steam locomotive I wonder giggles 261 Ill bet ( no I didnt read the whol article)