Palmer, IN: Erie Embankment Trestle and MS Tower

Wayne Hudak posted

Just east of Crown Point Indiana (of John Dillinger fame) is Palmer where the old Erie Railroad passed through. The area, being quite marshy, caused the railroad's track to sink and become uneven. In 1915/16 the railroad built a trestle through the area to alleviate that problem. The trestle was then filled over with earth to give it more stability. The embankment is still there and the track abutment for Randolph Street is still there. If anyone ever decides to remove it, they will find a buried bridge. Many railroads built this type of roadbed in marshy areas.

Photo: Construction of the Palmer trestle before being covered-1916

Michael Albert The Wabash Railroad in Westville was built the same way.

[I also found this photo on a Hoosier Valley page.]

Wayne Hudak commented on his posting
The Erie was a double track main through there, the two mains were separated a wider distance than normal mains. The Erie was known for that. Here's a shot of the well separated mains after abandonment between Crown Point and Schererville, looking north to US30.

Erie started with a broader gauge than the standard 4'8.5". But I think they converted to standard gauge long before they built their route into western Indiana. So I wonder why they stuck with such a wide double-track right-of-way.

Update:

Cal Venzke posted
Working on the railroad... "During 1915-1916 Robert Grace Contracting Company made a sizable cut at Palmer, Indiana for the Erie’ realignment project. Most people have never heard of “MS” tower, which is shown behind the steam shovels. This was when the Erie was doing a grade reduction and realignment project. Photo from HVRM collection."