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DM&E Walnut Creek Bridge (East)

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Walnut Creek
Rathbun, Appanoose County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Walnut Creek Bridge (East)
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
Contractor (Main Span) Bethlehem Steel Company of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 165 Feet Total, 75 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through and Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1939, Approaches Date to Ca. 1905
Traffic Count 8 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number I-502
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2017


Located near Rathbun, this large through girder bridge is the eastern crossing of Walnut Creek.
Built in 1939, this bridge features a single through girder span. In addition, a pair of deck girder approaches are located on the west end, and may date to Ca. 1905. The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures.
Significant substructure work was completed in 2015, which included preservation of the concrete.
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.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Based on identical nearby bridge
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele