Greene County Viaduct facts for kids
The Greene County Viaduct is a very long train bridge in Greene County, Indiana, USA. It's about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long. You can find it between the towns of Solsberry and Tulip. It's also known by other names like Bridge X75-6, the Richland Creek Viaduct, and most famously, the Tulip Trestle.
This impressive bridge is the third longest of its kind in the whole world! It stands strong with 18 huge towers supporting it. The bridge has mostly stayed the same since it was first built. Only two small sections were added in 1916.
Building the Giant Bridge
Work on the Tulip Trestle began on May 22, 1905. A special event called a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction. Joe Moss led this important day. The bridge was finished pretty quickly, by December of 1906.
Building such a big bridge cost a lot of money. Back then, it cost $246,504. That might not sound like much today, but in 2004, experts thought it would cost around $20 million dollars to build it!
Who Owns This Railway?
The Indianapolis Southern Railway company first built the bridge. This company later became the Indianapolis Southern Railroad. In 1911, it joined a bigger company called the Illinois Central Railroad. Today, the Tulip Trestle is part of the Indiana Rail Road's line that runs between Indianapolis and Newton, Illinois.
Key Facts and Numbers
The Tulip Trestle is truly a marvel of engineering. Here are some interesting facts about it:
- Length: The bridge stretches for 2,307 feet (703 m). That's more than half a mile!
- Tallest Point: At its highest spot, the bridge reaches 157 feet (48 m) into the sky. Imagine how tall that is!
- Location: You can find this bridge at 39°04′31″N 86°51′18″W / 39.07528°N 86.85500°W.
