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DM&E Walnut Creek Bridge (Middle)

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 (Middle)
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 110 Feet Total, 75 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Pile
Date Built ca. 1995
Date Fabricated (Main Span) 1939
Date Fabricated (Approach) Ca. 1905
Traffic Count 8 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number I-504
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2017


Located near Rathbun, this large through girder bridge is the eastern crossing of Walnut Creek.
Built in approximately 1995, this bridge features a single through girder span, fabricated in 1939. In addition, a steel stringer span was used on the south end. The bridge rests on concrete and steel pile substructures.
This approach span appears to have been constructed in approximately 1905 and used as a secondhand steel stringer span. It shows typical features of early 1900s spans. It is unknown where either of the spans were originally built.
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