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BNSF Mud Creek Bridge (Abilene)

Steel Stringer Bridge over Mud Creek
Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas

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Name BNSF Mud Creek Bridge (Abilene)
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Contractor Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 187 Feet Total, 52 Foot Main Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 25 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Built 1959
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 58.6
Significance Minimal Significance
Documentation Date December 2019


Located along Cherry street in Abilene, this large through girder bridge crosses Mud Creek.
Built in 1959, the bridge features two steel stringer spans, approached by trestle and set onto timber piers. It was built in response to the channelization of Mud Creek, almost certainly replacing an older pile trestle. The channelization of Mud Creek was ordered by the United States Government, and ATSF documents indicate this bridge was built as an agreement with the government.
In addition, the bridge sits on a switch, which serves the grain elevator to the east, as well as a connection to the Union Pacific line.
This style of bridge is extremely common, and is typically seen along railroads across North America.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Little serious deterioration was found throughout the bridge.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Plaques
Contractor Plaques
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele