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.


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