Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | CPKC Route AA Bridge Chicago & Alton Railroad Bridge #284.7 |
| Built By | Chicago & Alton Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Length | 157 Feet Total, 75 Foot Largest Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 80 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Steel Tower, Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1899 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & Alton Railroad Bridge Number | 284.7 |
| Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Bridge Number | 284.7 |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/16/2016 |
In 1868, the Louisiana & Mississippi River Railroad (L&MR) began construction on a 51 mile route, extending from the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri to Mexico, Missouri. Simultaneously, the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad (StLJ&C) was constructing 38 miles of new railroad, extending from Roodhouse, Illinois to Louisiana. The route would be completed in 1873 with the completion of the Mississippi River bridge, and would form an extension of the Chicago & Alton Railroad (C&A) system. The C&A constructed and financed the route, in agreement to lease the newly completed railroad. In 1878, construction began on an additional 157 miles to Bridge Junction in Kansas City, Missouri. The extension was constructed by the Kansas City, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad (KCStL&C) under the same agreement as the remainder of the line. The C&A had constructed a modest network of lines throughout Illinois, and this route provided a western extension to Kansas City. The StlJ&C was sold to the C&A in 1899. Throughout the years, the C&A would be affiliated with several
larger railroads, and the railroad primarily operated as a bridge
route. The C&A was reorganized in 1901, and until 1906 was owned by
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railway. A portion from Rock Creek to Bridge Junction in Kansas City was sold to the Kansas City Terminal Railway in 1916. In 1931, the C&A would be reorganized as the Alton Railroad (A), a subsidiary of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The Alton was sold to the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) in 1949, and the various subsidiaries consolidated at that time. The GM&O merged with the Illinois Central Railroad to form Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) in 1972. This line was excess for the ICG, and the route would be sold to the Chicago, Missouri & Western Railway (CM&W) in 1987. The CM&W was reorganized as the Gateway Western Railway in 1990, which became a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) in 1997. In 2023, the KCS was merged with Canadian Pacific Railway to form CPKC, the current owner of this line. Today, the line serves as a secondary mainline for CPKC.
Located on the east side of Bowling Green, this large deck plate girder viaduct carries the former Chicago & Alton Kansas City line across Route AA and an unnamed creek. The previous bridge at this location was likely an iron deck truss, constructed in approximately 1873 when the line was constructed. In 1899, the bridge would be reconstructed with the present bridge. The bridge consists of a 71-foot, a 27-foot and a 55-foot deck plate girder span, set onto a steel tower, and supported by stone and concrete abutments and concrete pedestals. It appears that the stone abutments were reused from the previous bridge. These abutments use a deep parapet design, which was often used by railroads to aid in stabilizing steep slopes. The girders use a standard design for the late 1890s and early 1900s. The use of concrete substructures was beginning to become commonplace along this route during this time, as evidenced by this bridge. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The deck plate girder viaduct design was mostly used for railroad bridges across deep valleys, as it provided the most economic solution for crossing large ravines. During the late 1890s and early 1900s, the Chicago & Alton invested significant capital to upgrade the Kansas City line, replacing bridges and revising curves and grades. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The west abutment of the bridge has been stabilized with a concrete encasement. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the relative rarity of this design in northeast Missouri.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |