Read an article about the Schaub variant truss.
Another one of the unique trusses along a former Iowa Central Railway line crosses the North Skunk River near New Sharon.
Built in 1902, the unique design consists of a Schaub variant Through Truss. The truss features riveted connections and an A-Frame portal.
Diagram of this style bridge
Approaching the bridge are a series of wooden trestle spans, which were built on the north end. The substructures of the bridge are both concrete and wood.
The Schaub variant truss is a take on the traditional Warren design, developed by Julius Schaub in 1901. While the original design featured a combination of pin and riveted connections, this bridge utilizes purely riveted connections.
The Schaub design offered a savings of material and a reduction of traditional stresses in truss members. Schaub considered it to be an ideal link between long pin connected spans and short riveted spans.
The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique design of the truss and rather large span length.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from Iowa Highway 146.