Located just off of Zeandale Road (K-18) between Wamego and Manhattan, this large through girder bridge crosses Deep Creek near the tiny town of Zeandale.
Little is known about the history of the bridge. It appears the girder spans were probably built about 1900. The bridge consists of two different sized through plate girder spans, set onto concrete and stone substructures.
Unlike most bridges, this one was left intact when the railroad was abandoned. It is unknown why, but it may have been used for field access. It is believed this bridge may be privately owned, but there was no real evidence of this when the author visited, as there were no signs or fences.
The girders are both different in size and details. While the western girder is shorter, it is heavily riveted, and appears to have maybe been altered at some point. The eastern girder is longer, but more standard.
The substructures on the bridge are also unique. The pier appears to be a former abutment, with extensive stonework on the west side of the pier.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, although the deck is in poor condition. The author hopes to find more information on this bridge.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.