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Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger
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…
Old Bridge Is Real Swinger
The old Illinois Central railroad bridge on the north edge of Council Bluffs has been a swinger for nearly a century. This old photo (top) shows ladies with parasols crossing the bridge on foot. Below, a bridge tender uses the same route but for a…
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
Like The Captain Of A Ship . . . 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.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
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.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
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, 1518 Avenue J, day bridge engineer. A phone is his only company.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
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.
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
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, 213 boats passed through…
Old Bridge Is A Real Swinger - Built In 1898 For Railroad
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".…
Illinois Central Drawbridge Is One Of Largest Of Its Type
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…
Today
Today... the Missouri River is calm and peaceful--thanks to dry weather and the series of dams built upstream by Army Engineers. The river level is now about one-half foot, a far cry from five years ago. Compare the levels against the Water works…
Council Bluffs Changing Scene
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--Remember the flood threat of 1952 when Council Bluffs residents--aided by volunteers from neighboring towns--turned back the raging Missouri River? This is how the Water Works intake looked that April when the river…
Today
Today...the span, now called Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge, has been doubled in width to keep up with increased traffic. The 5,700-foot long bridge was sold to the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben by the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. in 1938 for $2,350,000. …
Council Bluffs Changing Scene
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is the first bridge across the Missouri River at Council Bluffs. It was built in 1888. This photo, taken from the Iowa side, belongs to Mrs. Grace Kinney of 911 First Ave. It came from the possessions of her…
Goose Haven Flood Threat
Residents of Goosehaven, two and one half miles northwest of the Honey Creek interchange on Interstate 29, watched as water from the Missouri River, resting just short of flooding, reached a few doorsteps. The river, just beyond the cabins, backed up…
Today...
Today...fast trains use the modern steel Union Pacific Railroad Bridge at approximately the same location. The bridge is above the reach of high water and boats pass underneath as they travel both up and down the deeper Missouri River.
Mystery Of Primitive Indians Still Unsolved At Glenwood
Standing In A Former Earth Lodge . . . are young men from the Glenwood area who are helping John Hotapp, left, rear, excavate the remains of an Indian family home which stood here more than 700 years ago. Hotapp said workers on the nearby…