logo

Katy Trail Hillers Creek Bridge

Parker Pony Truss Bridge over Hillers Creek
Near Tebbetts, Callaway County, Missouri

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Katy Trail Hillers Creek Bridge
Built By Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway
Contractor A&P Roberts Company of Pencoyd, Pennsylvania
Currently Owned By Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Length 220 Feet Total, 105 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Parker Pony Truss and Trestle
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1897
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
MKT Bridge Number 130.0
Katy Trail Bridge Number 12
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2016


Located in the woods near Tebbetts, this pony truss bridge carries the Katy Trail over Hiller's Creek.
Built in 1897, the bridge features a Parker Pony Truss with 7-panels and riveted connections. The bridge rests on concrete substructures, and is approached by trestle spans on the east side. This span is very similar to many others along not only this line, but all Katy lines.
This style of bridge was popular due to the riveted connections. A&P Roberts/Pencoyd Iron Works did the fabrication of these spans, mainly to replace timber bridges. This style of bridge has also been called a Camelback Pony Truss.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition, with no major deterioration noted.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is an overview. The author hopes to return in the winter months, due to the lack of good photo angles during the summer.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Cultural Resources Inventory of Katy Trail
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele