The Abandoned Mt Lawn, Interurban Phantom Bridge, Mt Lawn, Indiana

In 1908 Indianapolis was a hub for interurbans with 7 lines already entering the city. However a new line was being discussed to connect Indianapolis with New Castle, Indiana and eventually Toledo, Ohio. The line was to be built parallel to the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis RR tracks and became known as the “Honey Bee Line” although I have no idea where that name came from.

On January 26, 1910 the first train ran on the Honey Bee Line leaving New Castle at 10:00 am and heading west. The train only went as far a Shirley, Indiana, about half way to Indianapolis before it ran out of tracks. The remaining tracks to Indianapolis were eventually completed but like most interurban lines, this one had financial troubles throughout the years. Unable to compete against the automobile, the line closed in 1937.

So this 3 span concrete arch bridge built in 1909, is about 150 feet long and spans Duck Creek just north of the ghost town of Mt. Lawn, Indiana. To see the video about the ghost town of Mt. Lawn, click on the link at the end of this video.

There was no actual train depot at Mt. Lawn for the interurban. It was known as a “Flag Stop” where people would flag down the approaching train for a ride to the next town.

This bridge is definitely falling apart yet Gene Ingram, President of the Henry County Historical Society said that the failing concrete in the center span was like that when he was a kid back in the 1950s.

The concrete bridge abutments just 100 feet to the North of this bridge are all that remains of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad line which after several mergers also went out of business.

GPS Location: 39º54’46.7″N 85º27’37.2″W

Video Release Date: April 19, 2023