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Ainsworth Rail Bridge (South)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over N. Fork Long Creek
Ainsworth, Washington County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Ainsworth Rail Bridge (South)
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 150 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 30 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1946
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned
RI Bridge Number 2048
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date January 2018


This large deck plate girder bridge crosses North Fork Long Creek on an abandoned railroad near Ainsworth.
Built in 1946 as the Rock Island relocated their mainline towards Fairfield, this bridge consists of three deck girder spans, set onto concrete abutments. The bridge also features a timber ballasted deck.
These types of spans were commonly built to cross larger creeks. It is set next to the northern bridge and Iowa Highway 92.
Overall, this bridge appears to be in excellent condition, despite being abandoned for nearly 40 years in 2019.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date American Bridge Company plaque
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele