One of the Most Photographed Railroad Sites in the United States, 5 Bridges, Blue Island, Chicago

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On the southside of Chicago is the small city of Blue Island which is home to one of the most photographed railroad sites in the nation...the Blue Island Junction Railroad Bridges.
At this location you’ll find 5 Through Truss Bridges originally built between 1961 and 1965 when the Calumet Sag Channel was scheduled to be widened. Here’s an aerial photo taken in 1959 showing the original trestles before the canal was widened, an aerial from 1962 with 3 of the current bridges built but before the canal was widened and what it looks like today.
Each bridge is about 200 feet long and stands almost shoulder to shoulder across the canal. Four of the bridges, two on the left and two on the right, are dual track and live rail lines. But the center bridge which was a yard lead for the Grand Trunks yard is no longer active and the rails were removed sometime between 1988 and 1999.
From what I’ve been able to find out these bridges have been owned/operated over the years by various rail lines including the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad, CSX Railroad, Canadian National Railway, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, the Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Iowa Railroad. It now appears that CSX owns at least 2 of the bridges and dispatches, operates and maintains the lines on the other two bridges as well.
Another interesting aspect of this area is the double diamond on the south side of the canal. I have no idea how many double diamonds exist in the U.S. but if anyone out there knows, please leave a message in the comment section below.
GPS Location: 41º39'08.0"N 87º41'14.5"W

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Great vidio, love the bridges. Thanks for the morning coffee...

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome.

[@nineoneoh]

This was very cool!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it.

[@bb_37]

Marion, Ohio, has two sets of double diamonds within a few feet of each other. An east-west double track CSX, former NYC, line crosses a north-south CSX, former C&O, line and a north-south NS, former PRR, line. Visit the restored Marion station sometime.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Cool! Can you give me a GPS Coordinate?

[@rctaylor011]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 maps.app.goo.gl/wiS1RVHxZxHDd4ru8 or search Marion Double Diamond Railroad Crossing

[@graffitifreighttrains1076]

Hope to go there with my 2 older boys someday.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's worth it!

[@bananabob2185]

Back in the days when people did their jobs… with integrity. 🚂 ❤️ 💪🏼

[@envi3244]

I live right around the corner, and I often see people recording by the tracks. Very cool to see

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I'll be back this Summer to get the other 2 railroad bridges down stream.

[@MattTheUPRailfan2006]

Awesome video😮!!!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks!

[@jackfruth3738]

Love the drone work! Your editing just keeps getting better!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! Glad you like the work.

[@gretahittle3183]

There’s a real neat double diamond in Griffith, Indiana!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

[@stevetalkstoomuch]

At the Railroad Park in Rochelle, IL there are double diamonds where the UP and BNSF transcons cross.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I'll have to check that out! Thanks!

[@daletowler1354]

Manville, NJ has old iron bridges go back to 1929 , big yard areas John Manville plant and lines heading south, and west and east

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

[@jackwalsh1468]

Satolli, another awesome video. Great drone footage, voice over and editing. Cheers, Mate.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! I just bought that drone this past summer and I'm getting some really interesting shots with it. More to come!

[@aaronschulte3207]

nice footage , thank you ! ❤

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Glad you liked it!

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome video! Awesome location! Such a cool place in history! Thanks for sharing!👍

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

If you're ever in the Chicago area, check it out. I think like 90 trains per day go over those bridges so you'll definitely see some traffic.

[@musclecarmitch908]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 👍

[@resqfreedom9308]

Awful beautiful weather up there in the windy city 😂 Happy New Year to you guys. Thank you for ALL YOU DO MY FRIENDS AND GOD BLESS 🙏❤️✌️

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

thanks!

[@joeanderson9852]

👍👍

[@johnswigler6512]

🧢🚂🇺🇸

[@kosmokritikos9299]

All of the motorists over our way are forever slowing down, stopping all over and blocking the normal flow of traffic. It has to stop! They are traveling too slowly and stopping far too often.