Location: Niles, MI - Triple Decker Interurban Bridge

The Southern Michigan Railway, an interurban line, crossed the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis railway (Big Four), and the MC South Bend branch south of Niles on three bridges, making it a triple decker crossing.

This was located in Section 2 of Niles Township, about 1,000 feet south of Fort Street

Image info: Top, a 1906 view shortly after the bridge was built for the new interurban line. 2nd, another view a Cincinnati lightweight car crosses the bridge in 1934 in the last years of the operation. [Both, Kevin Keefe collection]

Notes

The bottom level carried the Big Four line south from Niles.. The middle track was the Michigan Central South Bend branch from Niles to Notre Dame and South Bend. The interurban was on top.

The triple decker crossing was on the northwest corner of the building now occupied by Everwise Credit Union. The land contours were changed when the building was built. [KK]

Time Line

1905. The South Bend & Southern interurban line completed their line from South Bend, IN to Niles. [RG-1905-0310] The line was extended north the following year.