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Carlyle Trail Bridge

Deck Girder Bridge over Deer Creek
Near Carlyle, Allen County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Carlyle Trail Bridge
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Allen County
Length 262 Feet Total, 70 Foot Main Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Girder and I-Beam
Substructure Type Concrete and Stone Masonry
Date Built 1898, Rehabilitated 1947
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
ATSF Bridge Number 105.5
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2017


This simple deck girder bridge crosses Deer Creek just south of Carlyle.
Built in 1898, the bridge consists of three deck girder spans, approached by a steel stringer span on either side. In addition, the bridge is set onto both concrete and stone substructures.
In 1947, the bridge received an extensive reconstruction, including a new ballasted deck and repaired substructures. It appears that all steel spans are original to the bridge.
This style of bridge is commonly used to cross creeks and roads, as it is easy to construct and maintain.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition. It currently carries the Prairie Spirit Rail Trail.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant due to the common design. The bridge is easily accessible from South Dakota Road or Adams Street, both of which run underneath the structure.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1984 Bridge Book; courtesy of the Temple, TX Railroad Museum
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele