Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Four-Bent Pile trestle

(Mile 631.84)

— GM & O Railroad Heritage Trail —

Four - Bent Pile trestle Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, May 27, 2025

1. Four - Bent Pile trestle Marker

Inscription. This is an example of a 4-bent pile trestle. Vertical supports called pilings are driven into the ground to serve as a firm base. Each set of pilings (this trestle has 4 sets) is called a bent. The top photo is a northbound train carrying coal from the Captain Mine in Percy, Illinois to the power plant in Joliet. The bottom photo is an empty coal train headed back to Percy. The photos above were taken in May 1975 by Don Wirth

Erected by Town of Columbia, Illinois.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1975.

Location. 38° 27.692′ N, 90° 13.13′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of Quarry Road and Palmer Road, on the right when traveling east on Quarry Road. Across from Midland States Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1712 Ghent Rd, Columbia IL 62236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark

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Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Millstadt Junction (0) (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Milepost 632 (about 400 feet away); Palmier Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Palmier Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Sand Bank School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bell Tower (approx. half a mile away); American Freedom Fighter and Palestinian Girl (approx. 0.8 miles away); Piggot's Fort Great Run (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, May 27, 2025

2. Four - Bent Pile trestle Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.