Location: River Rouge, MI - Wabash Drawbridge (Original)

This was the original bridge built in the 1880's carrying the Wabash railroad over the Rouge River in Ecorse Township, which would later become part of the village of River Rouge. This bridge was just north of the the original Lake Shore bridge and existed until the new (current) drawbridge was built in the 1920's.

Information about the bridge is incomplete. Requires additional research.

Notes

Time Line

1900. September 1. Two Wabash locomotives and the three freight cars of the Wabash fast eastern freight train No. 9 plunged through an open drawbridge into the Rouge River at Delray. The engine crews had remarkably narrow escapes and no one was injured. The heavy train approached the bridge too rapidly to be controlled. 

The rule is to sop 100 yards from the bridge unless signaled otherwise. Engineers Wagner and McNab say that the signal indicated to come ahead. The bridgetender says that the signal was set to stop. The engineer and fireman of the head engine jumped off easily. The men on engine No. 2 narrowly got out thorough the tender gangway. The bottom of the Rouge is very soft and the engines have sunk out of sight. [HPAL-1900-0901]

The Wabash trains are passing over the Michigan Central via Pittsfield Junction, s the approach to the Wabash bridge is blocked. [via the Wabash at Milan, north to Pittsfield (near Ann Arbor) and east on the LS&MS Ypsilanti branch to Ypsilanti, and then the MC to Detroit]. [SWC-1900-0904]