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BNSF Sugar Creek Bridge (Bullards)

Baltimore Through Truss Bridge over Sugar Creek
Viele, Lee County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Sugar Creek Bridge (Bullards)
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 540 Feet Total, 126 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Baltimore Through Truss and Trestle
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1904
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 195.10
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2016


This massively built up truss bridge crosses Sugar Creek near the ghost town of Viele, Iowa.
Viele was a town built on the junction of two railroads. Only one of these railroads continues to exist.
The bridge here is a massively built up Baltimore Through Truss with heavy riveted connections. A missing plate seems to indicate the bridge was built by the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company.
The truss structure rests on concrete substructures, and is approached on the west (railroad south) by a long trestle approach.

The truss contains 6 panels, and is one of the heaviest built structures on the line.

However, the author has ranked the bridge as moderately significant. Due to the age of the structure, it is less historic than some counterparts along this line. None the less, the bridge is still a significant example of American Engineering.
The photo above is looking west across the bridge. More photos of this structure are anticipated to be coming soon.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Collection at the Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele