CFE/CSX/Conrail/Pennsy/PFW&C 1858 Bridge in Hobart, IN

(Bridge Hunter; Street View; 3D Satellite)

CFE = Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad
PFW&C = Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway

Ken Durkel posted two images with the comment:

When news came that the historic Pennsy stone arch bridge in Hobart, Indiana was slated to be replaced this year, I set out to get as many pictures of trains heading across the bridge as I could. Not easy when at most there are three trains a day, and more often than not in the dark. Some days no trains passed.But I did manage to get some of the last handful of trains passing over the 160 year old bridge. Built in 1858 for the P.F.W.&C. this bridge predated the Civil War. Though in recent decades the trains have been few, and for 8 years no trains crossed, for many decades 50-60 trains or more crossed here every day. The first picture is a postcard taken I would guess at least 100 years ago showing a westbound crossing the bridge. The second pic, taken on March 31, 2018, shows 10R crossing the historic bridge in its final months. The last train has since crossed this bridge and it will be replaced soon

Dennis DeBruler Looking at a satellite image, it appears that they have already removed a lot of trees to gain access. https://www.google.com/.../@41.53626,-87.../data=!3m1!1e3
Ken Durkel Yes, they cleared the area in March. Was a lot of overgrowth after one track was removed and the pole line was gone in the 1980s.

1

2

This is a reminder that back in the 1850s, stone arch bridges were popular. The UP/C&NW/G&CU still has another example. They were popular because the main alternative back then was wood truss bridges. American could not even make their own iron rails in the 1850s, let alone truss members for bridges. Obviously, stone lasts a lot longer than wood does.

Ken Durkel posted
CF&E 06 heads west in Hobart, Indiana and across the 160 year old Pennsy stone arch bridge. Built in 1858 for the Pittsburgh Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad, this bridge for decades saw at least 50-60 trains a day pass overhead. For the last 35 years the trains have trickled across as the former Pennsylvania Railroad Ft. Wayne Line is now only a shadow of its former self.
The last train passed over this bridge in October, 2018 and it is currently being replaced.
Taken on May 09, 2018.