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| Name | Katy Trail - Hillers Creek Bridge |
| Built By | Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Missouri State Parks |
| Superstructure Contractor | A&P Roberts Company (Pencoyd Iron Works) of Pencoyd, Pennsylvania |
| Length | 220 Feet Total, 105 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Parker Pony Truss and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Concrete and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1897 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/17/2016 |
In 1872, the Tebo and Neosho Railroad Company (T&N) constructed 72 miles of new railroad line, extending from Sedalia, Missouri to Moberly, Missouri. The new line crossed the Missouri River at Boonville, using an impressive iron bridge. The T&N would be acquired by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway (MKT) in 1873. By the late 1880s, the MKT desired to enter the St. Louis area, and the Cleveland, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway began construction on 162 miles of new railroad, extending from New Franklin, Missouri to St. Charles/Machens, Missouri in 1890. The railroad would be completed by the Missouri, Kansas & Eastern Railway in 1893, and the railroad merged into the MKT in 1896. In 1899, the Missouri Midland Railway would complete a 13-mile branch line, extending from the mainline at McBaine, Missouri to Columbia, Missouri. The branch line was sold to the MKT in 1901. This railroad formed the eastern portion of the principal mainline for the MKT, connecting St. Louis to the MKT system which had greatly expanded into Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas during the 1880s. In 1923, the MKT reorganized as the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. In 1975, the line between Fayette and Moberly would be abandoned, and the New Franklin to Fayette segment would be abandoned in 1978. The Columbia line would be abandoned in 1980, and converted to a trail in 1982. Due to the proximity to the Missouri River, the line was prone to washouts. A severe flood in 1986 damaged the line, and it was decided to not repair the line. In 1988, the MKT was merged into Union
Pacific Railroad (UP), and UP would donate the line to Missouri State Parks. The line was then converted to trail use, opening between Machens and Sedalia in 1993. Today, the Machens to Sedalia segment is part of the Katy Trail, while the Columbia branch is known as the MKT Nature Trail.
Located east of Tebbetts, this Parker pony truss bridge carries the Katy Trail over Hillers Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber trestle, constructed when the railroad line was built. In 1897, that bridge would be replaced by a 105-foot, 7-panel riveted Parker through truss span, set onto a concrete abutment and pier, approached by timber pile trestle span. It is unknown if the concrete west abutment is original to the bridge, or was added at a later date, perhaps as a trestle approach was filled. This design of bridge was a standard for the MKT, as it provided a strong, durable and economic span for spans in the 100-foot to 120-foot range. All known examples of spans of this design along the MKT were constructed by A&P Roberts Company, also known as Pencoyd Iron Works. The MKT contracted extensively with this company for bridges, and A&P Roberts provided numerous spans throughout the system. Parker truss spans are a variation on the Pratt design, using a polygonal top chord. Small riveted pony trusses, such as this span, became popular with railroads in the late 19th Century, as rigid (riveted) connections provided an advantage for high load capacity. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The bridge has since been converted to the Katy Trail, and is one of several such spans with this design along the trail. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Cultural Resources Along The Missouri, Kansas And Texas (Katy Trail) Railroad Route - Prepared For Missouri State Parks |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |