Im from northeast Ohio and was staying in Vincennes while working at the edwardsport coal gasification plant in 2011/2013. On Sundays I would ride my mountain bike on the back roads and came upon this bridge. I just had to cross it! Quite a thrill keeping my tires out of the cracks between the boards. On the Illinois side the nice lady in the toll booth told the history of the bridge. She said no toll for walking across so no toll for biking. Glad to see this video, it brought back good memories of my stay in Indiana

In the late 70's we held many a party parked in the middle of that bridge late at night.... good times....

Traveled this bridge a few times when I lived in Evansville Indiana to visit a friend in Illinois. First time crossing it at night, a friend and I traveling to see my friend in Sand Barrens IL, we witnessed a grown adult jumping off the middle of the bridge. This was around 9:30 pm in September. Called the police and waited for almost 45 minutes on the Illinois side. The 2 officers that responded said it was a common sighting and we probably seen a ghost. Just the look on both of the officers faces was enough to say they weren't messing around

@LesterMoore

2 жыл бұрын

Maybe it was a local politician who just read some devastating poll results.

You'd think they would set up a signal at each end so only one way can travel at a time.

@gogetta2lb

2 жыл бұрын

It's only a ONE WAY bridge now.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

All you have to do is Look. Now, I will say that if it's foggy, you may see another vehicle coming, once you've already started across. But that is only due to the denseness of the fog. Other than that... 🙄

@robertyoung9589

2 жыл бұрын

@@gogetta2lb 2 way bridge...one at a time

@kosmokritikos9299

11 ай бұрын

You never know what they're going to do in Indiana. It's a very peculiar place. If it makes sense, they probably won't want to do it.

For a 1.50 , that's a bargain. It's a hell of a lot better than paying almost 20 dollars to the crooks in New York and New Jersey Port Authority. ( and yes, that's a car price )

@samanthab1923

2 жыл бұрын

I live in PA now but grew up in NJ & worked in NYC, for the Port btw 😆 I haven't been to the city in years. Had no idea the tolls were that much. Insane. I remember always thinking the Verrazano was a lot. Don't miss the city.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

I remember when it was 50 cents😉

Love our bridge...my husband drives a tanktruck such a different experience riding in it over the water !! But living in St.Francisville we use this bridge alot to go to Vincennes, everyone should experience it atleast once it's awesome !

@mr7badass

3 жыл бұрын

So it's still there? I hope they dont replace it.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debra😊 I'm a product of St. F! Nice to meet ya! Ask your Dad if he knew Paul Young😁✌️. That was my Daddy and he knew everyone in the area. I wanted to tell you that when I brought my fiancé home, from Texas, what my Dad did. Lol! Of course Daddy was a farmer, like his Daddy, and we owned some large equipment. One such was a big ole red dump truck. So, Daddy had filled the truck with corn and offered to take my fiancé along with him, to Indiana to sell the corn. Once Daddy had him in the truck his ass was Daddy's! Lol! He told him never hit me and so on... You can imagine. But anyway, Daddy then takes him at breakneck speed over the Wabash on the trestle..... (while still in the half ton dump truck) Scared my man half to death! Lol!😂. He had absolutely no fore warning and I had never even told him about the bridge. It was quite the giggle for Daddy for years to come. 🤣

I love old bridges like this. They have such unique characteristics. Often you could hear the steel superstructure rattling above as you drove across.

Nicely done. I've traveled across that bridge many times and didn't know the side rails were made using the old rails. The bridge is long so that must have been a monumental undertaking. Thanks again!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like the video Anthony!

I hauled asphalt across that bridge about seven or eight years ago out of the Lawrenceville plant and we had one guy who didn't have a working cb, so we always managed to meet him in the middle then decide who was backing up, that's a long way to back up a big truck.

I love this channel! I live in England, but there are so many neat bridges, churches, towns and so on across the MidWest!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

If I get to England, I'll do a few when I'm there too!

@andyhenly1538

3 жыл бұрын

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 I do have some connections in that I met and married my wife in Newark, Ohio!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

Жыл бұрын

@@andyhenly1538 that's about 4 hours from me so those would be easy videos to do.

@kosmokritikos9299

11 ай бұрын

But nothing as old and intact as what you'll find traveling around Britain, except for the mounds that were built long before the first Europeans arrived.

This bridge is in my county! I walked over it when I was a Vincennes University student and head about the purple head. Now we drive under it and over it on 4 wheelers or side by sides while we are riding trails through the woods at Billett. It’s a very cool old bridge! I hope the state doesn’t mess it up when they repair it.

@duncanevy

2 жыл бұрын

I'm just to the west of you in Illinois. I attended VU from 95 to 97 and we went and partied at this bridge. I am having trouble finding out when they opened it to car traffic. I know it was not when I went there. There was no road on either side. Just the old train right of way. I have been underneath it and seen the swing mechanism. They say it is concreted in now. There are trails all the way up to Billet? I wondered how people got to them. They look like alot of fun

Best bridge video yet!!! One of my favorite bridge destinations. Even my kids love it. We can't get close to Vincennes without crossing it. I hope the job Illinois has in mind won't mess this up too much. I agree with your sentiment: see it now!!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked the video Mike!

My Mother lived in St Francisville for a number of years so I have crossed it numerous times. The rule is to turn on your headlights and first come first served as far as crossing it. You can see oncoming traffic pretty easily so any two meeting in the middle isn't likely unless you break the general rules of common sense and courtesy.

I live in Evansville and I've never heard of this, but not surprised Illinois would charge 1.50 to get across an old rickety bridge

@robertyoung9589

2 жыл бұрын

It's privately owned and maintained. A buck fifty is a bargain to save many miles. This is a shortcut to VIncennes US 41. When I was a teen we called it purple head...and the story goes...

@mrbr549

2 жыл бұрын

@@robertyoung9589 It was purchased by the state of Illinois in 2009.

So many places have "rails to trails" conversions -- this was interesting because it handles vehicular traffic. One note, however: The actual Wabash Cannonball train never crossed this bridge. It passed between Indiana and Illinois about 100 miles north, on the line from Detroit to St. Louis. That's OK, the folklore and haunted mythology, along with the fact that it is still in operation today, is fantastic!

I remember as a kid, having to get out and move boards from behind your car to the front.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, I can believe that! Once, out on the fishing boat, Dad took me underneath that bridge. When I looked up and saw all those missing planks.... 😳

I crossed this years ago. They can't replace it!

Have spent the last ten years leaving the beaten path in search of things like this.

@marilynnorourke56

3 жыл бұрын

If you are ever in Morgan county Ohio look up a bridge called 'The Hellmick" there is a website with pics of it. it's so beautiful!!

Very cool! I live near Flat Rock and have never gone across the Cannonball bridge. Guess I need to get down there before the state works it over. Great video!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like the video Ken!

Saw a pair of headlights disappear one night while out there in college. Saw a car come around the bend and pull off the road and turn off their light. When we passed where the light were there was no car and no possible place for them to have gone.

A really great story and explanation. I don't think my spouse would go over it but I would! Aside: 4:55 " 'tried' to commit suicide ... decapitated himself" --- that is no try.

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like the video Scott!

Great video and history lesson! I grew up in Peotone,Illinois and now live in North Carolina. I'm a retired North Carolina bridge inspector and really appreciated how you itemized the individual truss spans and dates when they were updated. It would take two possibly three teams of inspectors at least two weeks to inspect this bridge. Every inch of the truss spans would need UT (ultrasound) testing along with other NDT inspection methods when inspecting this bridge. What a historical treasure!!

@lorraineb.4698

5 ай бұрын

Why haunted?

These bridges are so unique & wonderful. My grandfather helped to build several around IL. And though I love to look at them & appreciate their magnificence, I am terrified of driving on any bridge. I'll go out of my way, if I can, to avoid that. Lol

I have ability to see things that one can't see but I saw the legends of the purple head bridge like all time when I go over that bridge. when I heard about the legend. I was in shocked because I found it in the book called Weird Indiana by Mark Marimen , James A. Willis, and Troy Taylor

Damn - I hope it survives long enough for me to get out there and drive across it!

It's still the same I took a drive a few weeks ago 😃

@renegadetenor

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the response, that helps!

This bridge has always freaked me out due to my fear of the Wabash lol

@bigglilwayne7050

2 жыл бұрын

We're riding through the Jungle on the Wabash Cannonball.....

legend has it that the decapitated head's eyes were still moving when they found it.

Amazing, love this channel!

Awesome bridge! You have too much fun!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

I know!!!! :)

I have been across that bridge one time that was enough excitement for me. My mother talked about walking across that bridge when it still ran trains. Scary.

I had friends who lived near West Salem, IL and this bridge was the on the back route to Vincennes, IN. I been across it several times years ago.

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 ай бұрын

It's a cool bridge!

This bridge is scary AF at night

@xanderharris1104

3 жыл бұрын

Looks like it would b

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

Naw...

My grandfather worked on this bridge in the 1920s!

Came across your video watched it and subscribed to your channel. Really enjoyed your video and what a beautiful old bridge!

Went on it today and i love every time I do

It’s so nice to see this bridge being recognized!! I live in Saint francisville and travel this bridge daily. The toll is $2.00 now though and there is many many different ghost stories regarding this bridge ! Locals don’t generally run into each other we stop flash your lights to let the other one go so on so forth. But there is always someone trying to check the bridge out who ends up going across while your driving I’ve had many out of town folks get on bridge while I’m half way across. There is also a second bridge that is almost just as neat right after this one.

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

Жыл бұрын

Where is the second bridge?

wow, I watch ONE bridge video yesterday, and today youtube is like: OMG WE NOTICED YOU LOVE BRIDGE VIDEOS, HERE'S 100 MORE!!! But actually, I like the content, so here we are. :P

Interesting documentary!🛤🛤🛤

I have been across this bridge several times. As of 2023, the toll is $2.50. My father is from St. Francisville. There use to be a boat ferry crossing the Wabash from St. Francisville to Indiana side. I was young, but can remember being on the ferry. It was guided by ropes!

@topb7341

3 ай бұрын

Yes thats correct, I'm from Lawrenceville, use to travel on that ferry back in the 60's Trig Kasinger use to be the ferry operator

I took a photo at night on this bridge. It ended up in the Tecumseh review (a magazine featured or printed by Vincennes University). It was of a friend with headlights behind her illuminating her silhouette.

That beautiful bridge 🌉

Okay I found myself waving back at the black Chevy!

I can't believe there's not a signal at each end like a drawbridge has

I live in Illinois and I never knew this existed

@duncanevy

2 жыл бұрын

Really? If you are local it cuts about 12 miles off the trip to Vincennes.

It's a heck of a ride on a motorcycle. My brother and i found ourselves here a few years back and it was downright dangerous as boards would just flop around under the weight of a bike. A few popped up on us while crossing... I'd probably do it again😂

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

Ай бұрын

Definitely a wide ride across this bridge.

What an awesome bridge

Is this bridge not well-traveled? Considering a lot of people can’t back out of their own driveway, I’m surprised there wouldn’t be more problems resulting from one lane? Seems like they would’ve put a simple traffic light system in to let people know when they can go.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

No, the locals don't end up meeting another car in process unless it's unusually foggy. Daytime, just look hard and nighttime you'll see their lights. In fact, most people turn their lights on during the day, just for that same purpose.

The Catfish and Carp ate ol "Purpleheads" body....

An interesting structure. A simple priority light would avoid mid-span arguments, and a coat of paint might exxtend its life somewhat.

great video

Down river, just north of I-64, is an old rail bridge separated in two. Not sure if it's remotely accessible but it's near the Illinois Rest Area.

@Rook00

2 жыл бұрын

Thats the illinois central bridge that goes into indiana

Very cool. Would love to ride my bicycle across it. Would probably be quite a chore to keep my tires out of the cracks and spaces in the boards. Still, would like to try it some day.

Illinois resident lesson 1- just because the state sets aside money for something doesn’t mean it’s ever gonna get done.

My great grandpa Dardeen was a caretaker of this bridge in the early 1900s.

Has it been updated now, or still a cool old bridge?

@renegadetenor

2 жыл бұрын

Lets Go Brandon!

@kernalkorn1514

2 жыл бұрын

@@renegadetenor Let's Go Brandon, I Agree!

Tip of the ole cap to whoever formulated the plan to recycle those rails. That's awesome!

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

Жыл бұрын

That was a pretty good idea, wasn't it?

Repurposing the rails for guardrail supports is genius

I'm surprised...I use this bridge...grew up near here...never heard this before.

Hi I’m Cannon. I was hoping you could do a video on my town, Summerfield NC. We used to have a railroad and part of it was in my front yard. There is also a historic district. Can you please do a video on my town before all the history is gone?

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Cannon! I would be very interested in doing a documentary on the history of Summerfield, North Carolina. Could you give me a call at 812-623-5727? I have some questions about the town. Thanks!

@gregcarrie2461

3 жыл бұрын

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 Welcome to our backyard... :) You mentioned that Illinois has set back money to refurbish that bridge. Can you tell me where you received that information? I have childhood (and adult) memories of that thing. Even when it was closed and we would go out there without permission.

@Scott-sm9nm

3 жыл бұрын

@@gregcarrie2461 This set of google search keywords find the PDF document but it is currently unavailable: site:www.idot.illinois.gov Wabash Cannon Ball Bridge Also saw references in the comments here: bridgehunter.com/il/lawrence/st-francisville/

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

@@gregcarrie2461 it was a newspaper article that I read about the money earmarked for the bridge.

Great video and info I live in Lawrenceville Illinois I'm gonging to video the Bridge with my DJI mini 2 Drone hope it turns out ok

Thank ya!!

Damn Pretty crazy stuff

WB Cannon ball was a famous train

Please do as much as you can on Wisconsin ..green bay

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

Жыл бұрын

I have a video on Kenosha coming out in a couple of weeks.

PLEASE do not tell me that this would be allowed for rental drivers hiring a car in some city connected to Ireland and open to people coming off the jet from Ireland, or any place in Europe. The bridge must be well warned with signs and such because I would consider it in need of considerable care and attention in crossing. hopefully the locals would cut me some slack and allow me to cross really slow. Having driven in NH and VT across some similar bridges I have no doubt that this would be the case. Very sober and deliberate people those Yankees. Good gentlemen on the road.

@rebelyank6361

2 жыл бұрын

We are deliberate if not always sober lol but thank you kind sir for the good words. New Hampshire native here with a family tree going back many many generations!

@duncanevy

2 жыл бұрын

The only sign on it warns that it is a toll bridge and 1 lane only. You do not cross it fast. I drive over it all the time. It is fairly out of the way.

Something I've never figured out is why opryland had the walhbash cannon ball coaster and all I've ever heard of is Indiana. Yes I'm that old

That bridge is not in my backyard and I'm glad it's not. A bridge like that, with spooks flying around all night, would scare the living daylights out of me.

I hope the ghost 👻 enjoys the new update on the bridge lol

I gave visiting it a thought, until you mentioned the ghost story.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

Go on out there! 🤣 You won't see any ghosts in the daytime! ✌️😁 That's a Promise!

@cinthia9602

2 жыл бұрын

@@juliepearce6667 OK. Thank you🙂

Handheld wired microphone!? What Is this, 1982?

What's with all the Clooney-Pitt boredom? Thought it was supposed to be about a bridge!!!

Vincennes University Grad 1990. I think everyone had visited Purplehead a few times back then. 🍺

@bradishear9369

3 жыл бұрын

I graduated 86. Had many fun nights crossing that bridge. I have to go back & see how campus looks now.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

@@bradishear9369 Much Bigger 👀.... Very much bigger.

When was the last train to use the bridge. Did they build the road over the old railroad line

Motorbiking or cycling over that must be interesting / iffy ??

Ivers Farms has videos of farm tractors crossing this bridge

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

My Dad and Grandpa crossed this bridge many, many times with a loaded dump truck.

Watch out for the Ivers bunch

What's its status? Is it under renovation?

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

I don't know right now as I'm about 200 miles away.

Is there a weight limit?

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

I'm sure there is but I don't remember what it was. It was built for trains so I'm sure most trucks could cross the bridge.

Interesting. I'm surprised no one thought to post signs instructing dumb drivers not to enter the bridge when bridge is occupied by oncoming traffic.

Has the bridge been worked on yet

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

I don't know.

Hello from Anna Illinois we're a hidden Gem lol

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

3 жыл бұрын

Do you live in Anna, Illinois?

All the bridge in Iowa are like this.

I missed it, I'm just seeing this video in 2/2/22

If that swing bridge was hand powered why does it have an electric service tower on top of it?

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

I don't believe that it does. And as long as I lived there, I never ever even knew it was a Swing Bridge because it never lifted up. Ever.

@patrickrichardson1036

2 жыл бұрын

@@juliepearce6667 Julie swing bridges do not lift (and that includes the Wabash bridge here) they swing. Bridges mostly are positioned athwart stream and that's true here. When a swing bridge opens for boat traffic it swings parallel to the waterway.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

@@patrickrichardson1036 I guess you're never too old to learn! But still.... The bridge has always been stationary. How's that? ✌️😁

@patrickrichardson1036

2 жыл бұрын

@@juliepearce6667 The reason for the stationary stance of the span is that there is no river traffic that warrants repositioning the deck span, if I am not mistaken the river is at a very shallow point near and around the bridge.

@duncanevy

2 жыл бұрын

That is not an electric service tower. It was for signal lanterns. I did not know it was hand powered but I knew it used to swing. I have been under that bridge during my college days and there was a massive ring gear and not much else left of the swing mechanism. I hear it is concreted in now so it cannot move. I am a local and cross the bridge all the time.

This was Big Four railroad CCC&STL not Wabash. The Cannonball never crossed it.

@kylea5529

2 жыл бұрын

It's called The cannonball bridge though... That's the name of the bridge... And crosses the Wabash River.... Pay a little bit of attention

@intercityrailpal

2 жыл бұрын

@@kylea5529 It's BIG FOUR RAILROAD NOT WABASH. Big 4 never had a Cannonball train. Get a Big 4 map and look at it. Better yet study the railroad.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

@@intercityrailpal Sorry, but he is correct. It's name IS The Cannonball Bridge and it crosses the Wabash River. Born and raised there, so don't even try to tell me it's name. It was also called Stangel Bridge for the farmer who brought it here and had it reconstructed. And at a later time, some started calling it Purple Head Bridge for the guy who decapitated himself, after he tried to just hang himself. Head popped off, tho. Guess that's what some might call "over-kill" 😂 Oh, and No... You were right.....The Cannonball never traveled thru here, in fact, no trains used it after it was brought here. It was meant for farmers to have a major shortcut to Indiana. ✌️😁

@patrickrichardson1036

2 жыл бұрын

@@juliepearce6667 The name Cannonball was not only used by the Wabash but as many as five other roads used the name for their crack (varnish) passenger trains. These trains once placed in rail service often were only numbers on the schedule until the public in the service area gave them their popular moniker. A good example of this is the petticoat junction Hooterville Cannon Ball. At one time the U.S. railroads operated as many as 20,000 hot shot passenger trains. E.g. Rock island rockets, Frisco Meteor, Katy Flyer and on and on the names intended to portray great speed and or vast luxury. So as you can see while the Wabash train number one and two (the cannonball) never traversed the bridge (except for a possible through coach or sleeper car in another roads consist) it was the errant public who called the bridge by a stolen name. Incidentally in the many incarnations of the song ""Wabash Cannonball"" many of the lyrics have the train in places like New York, Minnesota, Texas and locales the Wabash didn't pass within for a thousand miles or so. Such is poetic license. The famous locomotive engineer John Luther (Casey) Jones became a fatality while at the controls of the Illinois Central train the southbound Cannonball in the early morning hours of April 30th 1900. As of this date November 22, 2021 on the banks of the Mississippi river near Niota Illinois is the Fort Madison bridge a full span swing rail and highway toll bridge that is still in full operation as it nears a century of use.

@juliepearce6667

2 жыл бұрын

@@patrickrichardson1036 wow, that's some cool history! Isn't it amazing how well we built things in the past? I love historical things. Sounds like you do, as well. Especially when it comes to trains. 😉 Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Patrick!

the video got better after the dialogue imo.

Looks cool but no way I drive on it

It's fun to cross on a motorcycle.

@historyinyourownbackyard2363

9 ай бұрын

I bet!!!

Saved myself $1.50 by watching this video. LOL

The Quiet Place

Hell but hell no I ain't going across that bridge NO WAY

the toll is now $2.00

2021 im too late mannnn

I'd like to cross it on my motorcycle.

Cool History,but ,how is it safe in today's world,I'm just saying,I wouldn't mind going across it

Oops person get off I was here 1st and I'm more than half way !!!

🇺🇸🧢

If there are two ONE WAY bridges in close proximity to each other. Why not designate each for ITS own direction and have traffic use em accordingly.????? Dont tear em down. Theyre still serviceable and represent Americana!!!!

@mrimmortal1579

3 жыл бұрын

That would be a great idea, if the two one lane bridges were “side-by-side”, rather than “back-to-back”. One bridge crosses some low-lying area right before you reach the bridge that crosses the Wabash, traveling along the same road.

@frederickwise5238

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrimmortal1579 Thats notr the way I heard the video!!!!

@mrimmortal1579

3 жыл бұрын

@@frederickwise5238 yeah, the video is kind of ambiguous about the “other bridge 1/4 mile west”, almost as if he’s saying “while you’re in the area, check out this bridge, too!” But you can’t cross one without crossing the other. It’s been a few years since the last time (out of a whole two times lol) that I crossed it, so I don’t really remember if there’s a stretch of normal two-lane road between them or not.

@frederickwise5238

3 жыл бұрын

@@mrimmortal1579 I dont expect to ever be in the area to find out, since I cant drive anymore. LOL

@duncanevy

2 жыл бұрын

@@mrimmortal1579 There is a nice two lane paved road leading up to both sides. The road in between the two spans is also 2 lane paved.

A toll bridge you would think something would have done been paid for by now I don't believe in toll Bridges or toll roads it's taxpayers money that funds it taxpayers should be able to use it without having to pay for it again