Illinois Central Railroad

Postcard of the Illinois Central Bridge with the caption "Illinois Central draw bridge, Council Bluffs, IA."

Postcard of the Illinois Central Bridge with the caption "Illinois Central Railroad Bridge over the Missouri River between Omaha, Neb. and Council Bluffs, Iowa."

Postcard of the Illinois Central Bridge with the caption "Illinois Central Bridge between Omaha and Council Bluffs, the two longest draw spans in the world."

Postcard of the Illinois Central Bridge with the caption "Illinois Central Draw Bridge, Council Bluffs, Ia."

"This is the Illinois Central drawbridge about the turn of the century, when pedestrians were permitted to cross it. A double track railroad bridge and one of the largest of its kind in the world, it was built across the Missouri River in 1893."

Caption from the October 30, 1955 issue of the Daily Nonpareil.

"The bridge has dwindled in use. It is now a single track bridge used exclusively for river crossing of five or six freight trains a day. No pedestrian or auto traffic use the bridge. Only half of the bridge floor is floored with railroad ties."

Caption from the October 30, 1955 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"One Of Many...recent accomplishments in Council Bluffs, the Narrows Pumping Station, lower right, overlooks one of the top potential areas for future development. Among projects being studied is a municipal dock along the near shore of the Missouri River. River traffic, as fast rising mode of transportation, is symbolized by the partly opened Illinois Central Railroad Bridge. Nonpareil Airphoto."

Caption from the September 6, 1959 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"The Illinois Central draw bridge over the Missouri River is one of the largest of its kind in this country. The Iowa span of the bridge was built in 1893; the Nebraska span [in 1904]. The Omaha skyline is at the top of this picture which is looking to the south."

Caption from the August 26, 1962 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Shown above is a typical scene at the Illinois Central bridge over the Missouri River as it is opened to permit the passage upstream of an army engineer's paddle wheeler with a barge load of building materials. The draw which is open, is on the Iowa side of the river. The bridge is considered one of the largest of its kind in the country. It is electrically operated."

Caption from the October 8, 1939 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Like The Captain Of A Ship . . . [H. J.] Axtell can watch the comings and goings along his stretch of the Missouri River from the observation deck near the control house. An excursion boat passes by as he watches for other traffic."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Opening The East Draw . . . is a noisy business as the 255-foot span swings to allow river traffic through. Here the west span remains closed. A series of gears and two motors completes the turning process."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Although it's busy . . . when a boat or train comes by, many lonely hours are spent reading or just watching the river for H. J. Axtell, day bridge engineer. A phone is his only company."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Well-Worn Steps . . . are climbed by the bridge engineer before and after each bridge opening. Rails are loosened downstairs, switches pulled, and motors energized upstairs."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"From The Nebraska Side . . . of the drawbridge it is easy to see why it takes 10 to 15 minutes to swing it open. The towboat Davey Crockett pushes a dredging outfit owned by Pentzine Co. of Omaha. Between March 3 and June 24 [1969], 213 boats passed through the opening."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Tugboat And Barges Swish Downstream . . . and are framed by the east span of the Illinois Central Railroad's drawbridge north of Council Bluffs. Heavy wheels just above the main gear at left, carry the weight of the two, 522-foot spans or "draws". The single pier on which the bridge rests, reaches down 145 feet to its footing."

Caption from the July 16, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

A train crossing the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad swing bridge, 1979.

"Council Bluffs' span [of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad swing bridge] is manned Monday through Saturday by Bernardo Benavides. In [this] photo, he is retracting the tracks so the bridge can be opened."

Caption from the September 8, 1979 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

Illinois Central Gulf Railroad employee, Bernardo Benavides, "says it takes 15-20 minutes to swing the [Illinois Central Gulf Railroad bridge] span out over the river. The bridge is electrically operated."

Caption from the September 8, 1979 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Manning the entrance of one of two swing bridges in the United States is Bernardo Benavides. The Council Bluffs span was built in 1893, and the Omaha side was built later when the river changed course. Only the Council Bluffs side is used today."

Caption from the September 8, 1979 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Oiling The Gears . . . in the bridge operating house is Bernardo Benavides who has been working on the bridge for many years. Power for the swing starts in the operating house and is transmitted to the turntables through heavy gears and shafts. It is up to the bridge operator to keep the machinery in top shape. Only one engine a day makes the bridge crossing to switch rail cars in Omaha, so at the end of the day for Benavides, the span is swung open until he returns the next day."

Caption from the March 12, 1977 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Many Wheels . . . allow the bulky swing sections to turn on the piers that rest on bedrock. Illinois Central Trainmaster John Moran explained that the weight of the 75 foot wide bridge is not known."

Caption from the March 12, 1977 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"The Illinois Central Missouri River swing bridge is one of only three of its type in the United States and has been serving the railroad since 1893. The first swing span was built on the Iowa side in 1893, but a change in the river channel forced the installation of the second swing span on the Nebraska side in 1904. Both sections are 520 feet long. First a combination wagon and rail bridge, the span carries only one track today."

Caption from the March 12, 1977 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Chicago Central & Pacific [acquired Illinois Central Railroad in 1980s] dual span swing bridge over the Missouri River west of Council Bluffs has been battered by elements and attacked by vandals but still provides steady service for daily trains. In the summer river navigation season, the bridge is swung open almost daily to allow river traffic to pass."

Caption from the December 25, 1988 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

Illinois Central Railroad Trestle over Big Lake north of Council Bluffs, 1899.

Illinois Central Bridge construction - 12th St. and Broadway, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1899.

Postcard of the Illinois Central Station with the caption "Illinois Central Depot, Council Bluffs, Ia."

Postcard of the Illinois Central Station with the caption "Illinois Central Station, Council Bluffs, Iowa."

"When the Illinois Central Railroad station was built here in the early 1900's, plans were to continue the road on to the west. That's the reason the station was built on such a generous scale--to house various headquarter offices, as well as passenger station facilities."

Caption from the November 6, 1955 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"After considerable remodeling in 1950, the Illinois Central station now looks like this. it is now the freight station, since passenger service on the Council Bluffs line has been discontinued. in the background can be seen the Broadway viaduct, which spans both the North Western and I.C. tracks."

Caption from the November 6, 1955 issue of the Daily Nonpareil.

"In the early 1900s the Illinois Central Railroad had this passenger station at 13th St. and Avenue A. Note the mail wagons waiting for an incoming train."

Caption from the July 13, 1958 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"[Illinios Central Railroad] passenger facilities have been discontinued and the operation deals entirely with freight. A newer building in the same location as the original depot is only a portion of the structure first designed as a replacement."

Caption from the July 13, 1958 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"This Illinois Central Coal chute may well have been one of the first high-rise structures in Council Bluffs. Its use discontinued about 1954, a railroad employe[sic] said. The tall building was used to feed coal to hungry steam engines, and a few rare occasions the chute's loading door would stick open and literally bury the engine in coal."

Caption from the September 23, 1968 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Used as a working locomotive and a symbol of America's approaching 200th Birthday, this Illinois Central engine stopped in Council Bluffs Friday night and Saturday."

Caption from the June 22, 1975 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Roller Coaster Roadbed...faces Illinois Central crewmen for two miles where rails and ties sagged of their own weight when roadbed was washed out."

Caption from the April 27, 1952 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Wrecked Freight Cars [of the Illinois Central Railroad]. . . ditched in the derailment were thrown and pushed from the right-of-way. The accident occurred just south of the Honey Creek interchange of I-29." 

Caption from the August 4, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Clearing Right Of Way . . . at the scene of the Illinois Central derailment Sunday 12 miles north of Council Bluffs, work crews ready the grade for laying new rails. Empty boxcars have been dozed to either side of torn-out track section."

Caption from the August 4, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil.

"7200 Strike Against [Illinois Central Railroad] - Protest By Unions Over Settlement; [Illinois Central] Railroad At Near Standstill - About 40 Workers In [Council Bluffs] On Strike."

"All Is Quiet . . . in most sections of the Illinois Central Railroad yard here. This picture was taken near Thirteenth Street and Avenue F."

Headline and caption from the April 8, 1964 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

"Henry Watkins, a switchman, and K.J. Buhman, engineer, Friday stand picket duty at 13th Street and Avenue G. About 26 members of United Transportation Union Local 520 have joined some 4,000 workers in 14 states striking the Illinois Central Railroad. Another 50 to 60 non-union members here are not crossing picket lines, officials said. Friday was the fourth day of the strike. A temporary restraining suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, Tenn., was awaiting action Friday."

Caption from the April 11, 1969 issue of the Daily Nonpareil

Historical Society of Pottawattamie County newsletter from August 2003. Contains an article titled "A Council Bluffs Landmark Turns 110," that reports on the Illinois Central Bridge and gives a brief history of the railroad. Pages 2-5.

Historical Society of Pottawattamie County newsletter from Mar/Apr 2013. Contains an article titled "A Car Called 'Council Bluffs'," that reports on special sleeper cars that were named after cities on the Nickel Plate Railroad (later acquired by Illinois Centrail Railroad). Page 4.

A list of Daily Nonpareil article headlines and dates concerning the Illinois Central Railroad.