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Armstrong Rail Bridge

Double Intersection Warren Deck Truss Bridge over E. Fork Des Moines River
Armstrong, Emmet County, Iowa

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Name Armstrong Rail Bridge
Built By Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 273 Feet Total, 90 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 55 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Double Intersection Warren Deck Truss and I-Beam
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Pile
Date Built 1900, Approaches Rebuilt 1992
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Rarely Used
UP Bridge Number 40.80
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date April 2012 (Photos 1-19), December 2014 (Photos 20-32)


Located west of Armstrong, this bridge features a large deck truss span crossing the E. Fork Des Moines River.
Built in 1900 during the initial construction of the line, the main span of this bridge is a large riveted Double Intersection Warren Deck Truss. This span sits on concrete abutments, and was originally approached by wooden trestle.
In 1992, the bridge was rebuilt with new approaches. During the construction of these approaches, several random I-Beam spans were used from other locations. One span was built in 1948 by American Bridge Company.
The truss on this bridge also features some unique designs. Trusses like this were commonly used as pony trusses, but it was not uncommon for them to also be constructed as deck trusses. However, light spans like this commonly were built in the mid to late 1880s, although a 1900 build date would not be unheard of for this bridge.
If the main truss is indeed older than the 1900 erection date, it was constructed at another location. However, no proof of this can be found, as Rock Island bridge records are notoriously bad and difficult to find.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Little deterioration can be found on the substructure.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the deck truss design. This is one of three similar trusses existing in Iowa.

E. Fork Des Moines River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Head at Okamanpeedan Lake
Downstream UP E. Fork Des Moines River Bridge (Algona)

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Construction of route
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele