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Trains NewsWire EXCLUSIVE: Illinois short line bridge collapses
Bridge had been inspected earlier in the summer. Reports say heavy rains may have been a factor.
Dont they inspect those bridges retired NS RR
Isn’t it just the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (that’s the line that used to be the Peoria & Pekin Union).
Yes, thank goodness no injuries. The entire train could have fallen instead and folks could have been hurt.
Yes, thank goodness no injuries. The entire train could have fallen instead and folks could have been hurt.
Corn syrup, not soybean oil.
Carl, you’re correct.
Tazewell & Peoria is a separate railroad.
The overhead image at maps.bing.com shows the bridge with tank cars on it. Just search for Seville il and zoom in on the bridge; it’s just east of town.
This article reads like it was written more for a mainstream news outlet than for the Trains audience. (Not surprising, since Smeds works for one.)
Thank goodness no injuries or hazmat
Here is my photo taken on 9-3-13 of the westbound “Cannonball”. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mister-ed_peoria/9780850283/
Here is a link to my photo taken 9-3-13 of the westbound train: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mister-ed_peoria/9780850283/
Thank goodness there were no hazadous materials. We didn’t need this after the Lac Magentic wreck.
No doubt there are a few extra pair of undergarments being thoroughly washed out today down that way!
Structural engineers will tell you that the life of this type bridge is 85 years. I fought this battle over the Kate Shelly bridge when they wanted to raise the speed over it. Fortunately the vice president of engineering agreed and a new bridge was built.
Why can’t we stop using bridges built by our great grandfathers? The cost is far less than the inevitable mess.
The mess is NOT inevitable if the bridge is properly maintained and expected. It is to soon to know the cause, but there were heavy rains in the area last week.
I’d be willing to bet that either heavy rain undermined an abutment or one of the tank cars derailed and knocked out structural members. There’s no set lifespan on a bridge like this and how long it lasts all depends on maintenance, proper reinvestment over the years, mother nature, and its suitability. Since this bridge was recently inspected it’s safe to assume that it was essentially in solid shape.
here’s a picture of that locomotive set with the (former) Spoon River bridge
Thankfully the tank cars didn’t leak. Imagine the Fish & Game Dept. puzzling over over an outbreak of obesity and diabetes among the fish population!
Does anybody know more details about the truss span? How long, was it pin-connected, and such. Either the bridge failed under load or a derailed car took out one of the members, but which triggered the collapse may be difficult to determine in that mess.