Wheredis 3/15/2013

[wayne b]

This might be too easy. Coordinate available if you want to cheat. Where is this bridge under a bridge? Why was it built this way?

[h2466]

Richmond? Ken

[indrr]

It was an interurban underpass, west of Garrett. It utilized an existing railroad bridge over the creek, so it was far cheaper than building an overpass, new underpass, or at grade crossing. It had major flooding problems of course. Craig can add more info I'm sure.

This was done in at least a couple other places around the state as well. I can think of one near Brooklyn on the Martinsville line, and another near Pennville on the Richmond line.

[wayne b]

Right, Nathan. The only thing you left out is that this is a mile and a half west of Garret and a quarter mle north of Cr 48 on the Kendellville branch. The Waterloo seperated in Garrett and went east. But that is picking nit. I wonder if you could do screen shots of the other two you mentioned. It was a clever way to get by the hostile RRs. By the way, would you consider posting your map file here?

[indrr]

Here's the aerial of the above location, with my interurban map overlaid: http://goo.gl/maps/nyHnE

Here's the Pennville site: http://goo.gl/maps/X46fD It was unique because the interurban originally used the existing culvert to avoid crossing the PRR at grade. When the PRR upgraded the line in the 1910s, they built an overpass over the National Road, which meant that the interurban could abandon the culvert route in favor of a straight line along the highway. Then, when the highway was widened to four lanes in the late 30s, the new bridge included a span for the interurban, although it was never used as that line was abandoned before the bridge's completion. That bridge remained until the abandonment of the PRR/PC/CR.

And here's the Brooklyn site: http://goo.gl/maps/1bCNg It too crossed under the PRR. I visited the site a couple years ago, and the concrete abutments still remain. They were about 2' high, about 18" above the normal waterline. However, since the PRR had that large of a bridge, I think there were many times that the interurban line would've been flooded out.

[wayne b]

Thank you, Nathan. A bit difficult finding them without coordinates though. The one looks like it went under the bridge on dirt and had a separate bridge on the northern approach. The other has too much growth to tell much at all. I take your word though on what you found when there. Google Earth is a poor substitute for direct observation but I can no longer get there to see such things for myself.

[indrr]

Thank you, Nathan. A bit difficult finding them without coordinates though. The one looks like it went under the bridge on dirt and had a separate bridge on the northern approach. The other has too much growth to tell much at all. I take your word though on what you found when there. Google Earth is a poor substitute for direct observation but I can no longer get there to see such things for myself.

The links should take you directly to the google map of the locations, but the first is 39°48'56.76"N, 85° 5'8.22"W; the second is 39°31'58.65"N, 86°22'27.27"W.

The first one, near Pennville (Wayne Co.), may have had an additional bridge, though it is hard to tell. The PRR could have obliterated much of the approach when they elevated their line.

The second one near Brooklyn is definitely hard to tell. At least the current aerials are taken after a utility project that cut back much of the brush. It is still just about impossible to see the abutments from anywhere but standing over them. I have photos somewhere that I'll post a link to when I get the chance.

[wayne b]

I think the south abutment at Brooklyn has been lost. 2oo5 and 2010 GE views below. It looks like the north one is about buried but still there if I am looking at it right.

3-20-2005.png (93.93 KiB) Viewed 7587 times

5-5-2010.png (115.9 KiB) Viewed 7587 times

2005 of Pennville shows south approuch ok but it looks like the culvert cuts the ROW in half.

3-30-2005.png (444.99 KiB) Viewed 7587 times