Brace yourselves for a tale of steel and ambition. This is the story of the Nickel Plate Railway Bridge. It stands as a testament to Chicago’s relentless pursuit of progress. This bridge embodies the spirit of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. People called it the Nickel Plate Road.
Picture this bridge in 1881. The Nickel Plate Road emerged as a bold challenger to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. William H. Vanderbilt owned that railway. The Nickel Plate Road aimed to break Vanderbilt’s transportation monopoly. It sought to create a more competitive route between Buffalo and Chicago.
The nickname “Nickel Plate” came from an Ohio newspaper. The Norwalk Chronicle described the new railway as a “double track, nickel-plated railroad”. The name stuck. The company embraced it.
The Nickel Plate’s main line finished construction on September 1, 1882. It stretched 521.89 miles from Buffalo to Chicago through Fort Wayne. The tracks crossed the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. They passed through Kingsbury Run. They crossed Willson Avenue and other major streets.
Legend says Vanderbilt tried to undermine the Nickel Plate’s reputation. He spread rumors about substandard materials and unsafe practices. His efforts failed to scare investors.
In a surprising twist, Vanderbilt bought the Nickel Plate in October 1882 for $7.2 million. He aimed to neutralize a strong competitor. However, he couldn’t let the railroad fail. It had cost too much to acquire. The Nickel Plate continued to operate. It handled enough business to stay afloat. Vanderbilt directed most traffic to his Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.
The Van Sweringen brothers acquired the Nickel Plate in 1916. They needed its right-of-way for their Shaker Heights rapid transit line. They united the Nickel Plate with the Lake Erie & Western and the Toledo, St. Louis & Western in 1922.
The Nickel Plate became known for high-speed freight service. It emblazoned the slogan “High Speed Service” on its equipment. Despite its focus on freight, the Nickel Plate did have some passenger trains. The “City of Chicago” and “City of Cleveland” made their last runs on September 9, 1965.
In 1964, the Nickel Plate Road merged with the Norfolk & Western Railroad. This merger created a larger, more competitive system. In 1982, Norfolk & Western merged with the Southern Railway. This formed the Norfolk Southern Corporation.
The Nickel Plate Railway Bridge stands as a reminder of a bygone era. It embodies the ambition and rivalry that shaped America’s railroads. The Nickel Plate Road connected communities. It facilitated commerce. It left an indelible mark on the Midwest.