East Omaha

[Coyote]

Great article about East Omaha in the LJS:

Jim McKee: East Omaha and Eppley Airfield

Although the long independent city of South Omaha, Nebraska, is still remembered by many folks, few ever even have heard of or remember East Omaha. This is partially true because South Omaha, prior to its 1915 annexation by Omaha, had a population of over 26,000, and East Omaha probably peaked at about 750. Still, it covered over 5 square miles at one point in its history, and anyone flying out of Eppley Airfield has visited its site.

[BRoss]

Jim McKee writes a lot of interesting articles about Omaha. I love them.

[skinzfan23]

Thanks for posting. I also went on to read his article on the Illinois Central draw bridge between Omaha and Council Bluffs.

http://www.johnweeks.com/river_missouri ... aha07.html




Also interesting to see this picture with the large rollers that allowed the bridge to pivot from open to closed. I remember going up to the bridge as a kid but I didn't look at the details like that back then.

[Seth]

Very cool, thanks for the up-close pictures

[Brad]

Very cool, thanks for the up-close pictures

If you want to see more:
http://eomahaforums.com/phpBB/viewtopic ... ing+Bridge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[damonhynes]

With bridges across the MO at Blair, Omaha and Plattsmouth, does anyone think the much-claimed need for the IC bridge for the sake of redundancy doesn't hold water any longer?

[Louie]

With bridges across the MO at Blair, Omaha and Plattsmouth, does anyone think the much-claimed need for the IC bridge for the sake of redundancy doesn't hold water any longer?

Was reviving that bridge something that was being discussed?

[damonhynes]

With bridges across the MO at Blair, Omaha and Plattsmouth, does anyone think the much-claimed need for the IC bridge for the sake of redundancy doesn't hold water any longer?

Was reviving that bridge something that was being discussed?

Depends on how you define 'reviving'. There was talk of turning it into a rail trail before The Bob was built.

My point is that to restore it to even a fraction of the capacity of the UP CB bridge would be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Advocates over the past 20-30 years have misrepresented the condition of the bridge and tracks, implying that it was banked and ready to go. There is no access on the CB side and what looks to be 10MPH trackage on the Omaha/Carter Lake side. It'd take Herzog and Hulcher at least six months to rehab that line, and that's ignoring eminent domain issues in CB.

I'm as curious as you are about the possibility that anyone can be arsed to advocate for rehabbing the IC line, more curious about those who want it left to rot. It's somewhat of a hazard to Eppley traffic and I'm sure the Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard would like it removed. At best, it's an eyesore.

[Brad]

As much as I would like to see it re-activated, there is absolutely no need for it. I'm actually shocked the CN has enough business in Omaha/CB to maintain the line from Dennison to Council Bluffs. Secondly part of the claim for "redundancy" was for the North Omaha Power Plant. While it has been delayed, that plant is going to transition away from Coal. Third, traffic is down on all the lines right now (Blair, Omaha, and Plattsmouth, and assuming Rulo too).

CN Customers that I know of:
1. ConAgra Mill at I80/I480/JFK (AKA Monkey Mountain).
2. Monarch Oil south of Eppley
3. The former Omaha Box building south of Eppley
4. Paxton & Vierling Steel
5. Sapp Brothers Petroleum (Next to Paxton & Vierling Steel)

[daveoma]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

[damonhynes]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

No argument that it's interesting and fairly rare!

[Athomsfere]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

I wonder if Durham could get it to the museum. I love this bridge and have visited it a few times...

[almighty_tuna]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

I wonder if Durham could get it to the museum. I love this bridge and have visited it a few times...

Okay, so hear me out on this...

Relocate the bridge down near HOA park, refurb it and improve its rusty brown aesthetic, then use it as part of an attractive streetcar & pedestrian multi-modal bridge w/cool lighting effects from HOA park to CB where it would connect to the First Ave trail and the CB streetcar system. THEN, hang giant illuminated letters on the side that spell O-M-A-H-A.

[Louie]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

I wonder if Durham could get it to the museum. I love this bridge and have visited it a few times...

Okay, so hear me out on this...

Relocate the bridge down near HOA park, refurb it and improve its rusty brown aesthetic, then use it as part of an attractive streetcar & pedestrian multi-modal bridge w/cool lighting effects from HOA park to CB where it would connect to the First Ave trail and the CB streetcar system. THEN, hang giant illuminated letters on the side that spell O-M-A-H-A.

Could you imagine the cost of moving that structure? Holy moly. Though that is a cool idea.

[Bomaha]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

I wonder if Durham could get it to the museum. I love this bridge and have visited it a few times...

Okay, so hear me out on this...

Relocate the bridge down near HOA park, refurb it and improve its rusty brown aesthetic, then use it as part of an attractive streetcar & pedestrian multi-modal bridge w/cool lighting effects from HOA park to CB where it would connect to the First Ave trail and the CB streetcar system. THEN, hang giant illuminated letters on the side that spell O-M-A-H-A.

Could you imagine the cost of moving that structure? Holy moly. Though that is a cool idea.

How much did we just waste on SFrost? This should be easy. Get a couple hundred drones and some nylon rope...we got this.

[ita]

I love the uniqueness of the bridge, so I'd love for it to be refurbished.

I wonder if Durham could get it to the museum. I love this bridge and have visited it a few times...

Okay, so hear me out on this...

Relocate the bridge down near HOA park, refurb it and improve its rusty brown aesthetic, then use it as part of an attractive streetcar & pedestrian multi-modal bridge w/cool lighting effects from HOA park to CB where it would connect to the First Ave trail and the CB streetcar system. THEN, hang giant illuminated letters on the side that spell O-M-A-H-A.

Could you imagine the cost of moving that structure? Holy moly. Though that is a cool idea.

How much did we just waste on SFrost? This should be easy. Get a couple hundred drones and some nylon rope...we got this.

Giant crane(s) and some barges, float it down river and hope it goes under Big Bob and the I-480 bridge?

[MadJack]

With bridges across the MO at Blair, Omaha and Plattsmouth, does anyone think the much-claimed need for the IC bridge for the sake of redundancy doesn't hold water any longer?

Was reviving that bridge something that was being discussed?

Depends on how you define 'reviving'. There was talk of turning it into a rail trail before The Bob was built.

My point is that to restore it to even a fraction of the capacity of the UP CB bridge would be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Advocates over the past 20-30 years have misrepresented the condition of the bridge and tracks, implying that it was banked and ready to go. There is no access on the CB side and what looks to be 10MPH trackage on the Omaha/Carter Lake side. It'd take Herzog and Hulcher at least six months to rehab that line, and that's ignoring eminent domain issues in CB.

I'm as curious as you are about the possibility that anyone can be arsed to advocate for rehabbing the IC line, more curious about those who want it left to rot. It's somewhat of a hazard to Eppley traffic and I'm sure the Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard would like it removed. At best, it's an eyesore.

With all due respect, I could not disagree more that the bridge is an eyesore. I think it's cool -- a great display of Omaha's (and America's)rich railroad history. I hope it's never removed. Also, I like seeing it every time I land at Eppley.

[damonhynes]

I'm as curious as you are about the possibility that anyone can be arsed to advocate for rehabbing the IC line, more curious about those who want it left to rot. It's somewhat of a hazard to Eppley traffic and I'm sure the Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard would like it removed. At best, it's an eyesore.

With all due respect, I could not disagree more that the bridge is an eyesore. I think it's cool -- a great display of Omaha's (and America's)rich railroad history. I hope it's never removed. Also, I like seeing it every time I land at Eppley.

Thanks for the genteel discourse--I'm from St. Louis and there are tons of river infrastructure there that I'm a foamer about.

I'd like the IC bridge better if it was in working condition, whether it had train traffic or not. But having a hike/bike swing bridge would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Honestly, I'd have thought that the floods in either 1993, 2011 or 2018 would have gotten it.