This new line would be completed in a staggering 208 days, opening in early 1899. The line was owned by the D&SC (which was a subsidiary of Illinois Central).
The line was also the most significant branch off the D&SC mainline through Iowa.
The new line connected mainly rural areas, and crossed into Omaha on a swing bridge over the Missouri River.
This bridge was leased from the Omaha Bridge and Terminal Railway Company.
When completed, the line was regarded as a mainline, connecting Nebraska to Chicago. East of Tara, the line connected Waterloo, Dubuque and Chicago.
By 1947, the IC fully absorbed any remains of the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad. IC became the sole operator and proprietor of this line.
In 1972, the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio merged with IC to form the Illinois Central Gulf.
In 1985, operations of the ICG western division (west from Chicago) was spun off into the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad.
By 1996, the railroad was repurchased by Illinois Central. Canadian National Railway purchased Illinois Central in 1999, and continues to operate the line as the Omaha Subdivision.
11/07/21
This large girder bridge looks quite out of place in the present day, crossing nothing but an empty field.
However, when it was built, it originally crossed the Boyer River; a river that flooded often and required a large trestle.
Because of the continued flooding of the area, a series of diversion and channelization projects took place throughout first half of the 21st Century. This included the rerouting of the Boyer River, and filling of the channel under this bridge.
The bridge that remains is a large 3 span deck girder. The piers are steel bents, set on stone piers. In addition, the abutments are made of stone as well.
Today, the bridge is in good condition. The author has ranked this bridge as locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.
| Upstream (Current Channel) | UP Boyer River Bridge #4 |
| Downstream (Old Channel) | UP Old Boyer River Bridge |
| Downstream (Current Channel) | Confluence with Missouri River |