Wabash Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wabash Bridge |
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The Wabash Bridge looking southeast
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| Coordinates | 39°43′27″N 91°21′44″W / 39.72417°N 91.36222°W |
| Carries | 1 track of Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Crosses | Mississippi River |
| Locale | Hannibal, Missouri and Pike County, Illinois |
| Maintained by | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | 5 Truss spans with Vertical lift over main channel |
| Longest span | 409 feet (125 m) |
The Wabash Bridge is a special bridge that carries one railroad track over the mighty Mississippi River. It connects Hannibal, Missouri, with Pike County, Illinois. The Wabash Railroad built this bridge a long time ago. Today, the Norfolk Southern Railway owns it.
Bridge Accident: A Close Call
On May 3, 1982, something dramatic happened at the bridge. A towboat named Northern King was pushing 12 barges full of grain. It was a tough trip because the river currents were very strong. Suddenly, one of the boat's engines stopped working!
The towboat crashed into a part of the bridge called a truss span. This section was about 250 feet (76 meters) long. The impact caused the bridge section to fall into the river! The boat and some of the barges got stuck in the fallen bridge pieces. River traffic had to stop for nine hours while they sorted things out. Luckily, three barges broke free and floated downstream. They narrowly missed the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge nearby. The bridge was owned by the Norfolk and Western Railway at the time, which is now part of Norfolk Southern. They quickly repaired the damaged bridge.
How the Bridge Changed Over Time
The Wabash Bridge wasn't always the way it is now. When it was first built, it was a swing bridge. This type of bridge has a part that swings open to let boats pass.
- In 1994, the bridge was changed to a vertical lift bridge.
- A vertical lift bridge has a section that moves straight up and down.
- This change made the path for boats much wider, which was great for river traffic.
- The special vertical lift section actually came from another bridge! It was taken from a bridge over the Tennessee River in Florence, Alabama.
- To make sure river traffic wasn't stopped for too long, the new lift section was put in place very quickly, over just three days.
Bridge's Past Life as a Road Bridge
Before the Mark Twain Memorial Bridge opened in 1936, the Wabash Bridge had another important job. It was also a toll bridge for cars! People had to pay a fee to drive their cars across it. It carried U.S. Route 36 over the river. After the new Mark Twain Memorial Bridge was built, the Wabash Bridge became just for trains.
Gallery
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Bridge during June 2008 Midwest floods. Normally, there is about 20 feet clearance below the bridge.
