Located in the town of Goldfield, this large stone arch bridge crosses Buttermilk Creek.
Although no date carving could be found on the bridge, further research found that this bridge was built in 1900. Using a single stone arch span, the bridge was designed by Elmer J.C. Bealer, and built with stone quarried in Cedar Valley, Iowa.
While most stone arches typically follow a horseshoe shape, this one has a significantly more egg shape to it. This creates an unusual appearance, as the span is particularly long.
This actually was the final stone arch ever constructed for the BCR&N. After this, they would switch to using brick and concrete, a design that has not held up nearly as well.
Currently, the bridge is owned by Union Pacific. It has had little alterations since construction.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with little major deterioration. Unfortunately, some stone blocks have begun to shift, although this does not appear to pose an immediate threat to railroad operations.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unusual twist on a common design.
The photo above is an overview.