Tod Ranch Bridge

One of the most interesting bridge success stories sits in Kansas, on a private road.
A massive Pratt Through Truss crosses Mill Creek on a private ranch road. Saved from certain doom in 1950 by a history buff and his friend; the bridge has remained hidden from the public eye for almost 70 years.
The bridge is a massive 8-panel pin connected Pratt Through Truss. At 140 feet long, it was once a span crossing a large river in Oklahoma.
In the current location, it is well preserved; including a number of plaques left on it, and nearly perfect historic integrity.

The bridge that carries the Tod Ranch Road was originally located in Oklahoma. It was built for the Southern Kansas Railway.
In 1949, the bridge was replaced. Originally composed of numerous spans of the same design, all others were scrapped. The author was told the following story about the bridge:
The previous landowner and a friend were driving in Oklahoma and saw the railroad replacing the structure. The friend made a joke about buying a span and preserving some history. The landowner laughed, and pondered it. The next day, he talked to the crews about the feasibility of buying a span. He was offered a span, and it was shipped to Maple Hill by railroad. The landowner was in need of a large bridge to cross Mill Creek, after the previous low water crossing was destroyed.
In 1950, the bridge was reassembled by the family and friends of the landowner, and set into place over Mill Creek.

Despite the other spans being destroyed, this span was successfully saved and is one of the least known relocation success stories.
Not only is the significance innumerable, but this was one of the oldest bridges in Oklahoma when it was moved.
Now located in Kansas, the bridge is one of the best preserved examples of a private party saving a bridge in existence.

The author has given this bridge a rating of highly significant; due to the historic integrity of the bridge, as well as the significance of the relocation.
While this historic bridge is a must-see structure, it is unfortunately not possible to access for the general public. The author was fortunate to have the privledge to see this structure.
This being said, please do not attempt to access this bridge without permission. Landowner information will not be disseminated through this site.
The photo above is looking east across the bridge.