Located near Rathbun, this large through girder bridge crosses the Chariton River.
Built in 1901, this bridge has features of other bridges around the Milwaukee Road system dating to the same time. It consists of a single through girder span, set onto concrete substructures. In addition, the east approach consists of trestle spans.
When constructed, the bridge featured several trestle spans on either side. However, these have largely been filled.
Large girder spans like this were common to cross rivers and streams, due to the durability and ease of construction.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Many bridges along this route were upgraded in the 1930s and 1940s, indicating the main line status. It is assumed this bridge was probably strengthened at that time.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.