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Maple Hill Rail Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Mill Creek
Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Maple Hill Rail Bridge
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Contractor (East Spans) Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Contractor (Other Spans) American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 200 Feet Total, 50 Foot Spans
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1923, Using Some Older Parts
Traffic Count 20 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 109.10
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2017 and December 2019


This common deck girder bridge is the 12th crossing of Mill Creek on the Union Pacific mainline.
The bridge is composed of a four of deck girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. These girders appear to be from several different locations and eras, judging by the missing plaques.
While the author can assume the builders based on missing plaques, it appears that the bridge was completely rebuilt in 1923. The two Lassig spans likely were part of the previous crossing here. It also may be possible they were scrap spans, moved in from another location.
The author is attempting to find more information on this bridge, although it is difficult to find records for the Rock Island.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed via the nearby roads.

Mill Creek Railroad Bridges
Upstream Tod Ranch Bridge
Downstream Mouth at Kansas River

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Dates Based on 1923 double tracking of line
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele