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| Name | UP Fishpot Creek Bridge Union Pacific Railroad Bridge #19.28 |
| Built By | Missouri Pacific Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Hedges-Weeks Construction Company of Springfield, Missouri |
| Length | 50 Feet Total |
| Width | 2 Tracks |
| Height Above Ground | 30 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1929 |
| Traffic Count | 30 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 19.28 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/18/2016 |
In the early 1850s, the Pacific Railroad charted a new 5-foot 6-inch gauge railroad, extending from St. Louis, Missouri to Kansas City, Missouri. Construction began on the railroad in 1852, and the first 5 miles from downtown St. Louis to the Maplewood neighborhood were completed that year. An additional 30 miles to Pacific opened in 1853, followed by an additional 41 miles to Hermann in 1855. An additional 45 miles to Jefferson City were completed in 1856, followed by an additional 37 miles to Tipton in 1858, 5 miles to Dow in 1859, 13 miles to Smithton in 1860, 8 miles to Sedalia in 1861, 7 miles to Dresden in 1863, 22 miles to Warrensburg in 1864 and 65 miles to Kansas City in 1865. By 1869, the line would be converted to standard gauge to improve operations. The Pacific Railroad would be seized by the State of Missouri in 1868, and sold to the Missouri Pacific Railway in 1876. MP had amassed a large collection of railroad lines, particularly in
Missouri and Kansas. This line served as a principal mainline for the company, serving as the
primary route across Missouri. The railroad
reorganized to the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917. Between 1926 and 1929, the line between Jefferson City and St. Louis would be upgraded, with double tracks and realignments. Additional improvements west of Jefferson City would be made in the late 1940s. The MP was merged
into the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1982. Today, Union Pacific
continues to operate the St. Louis to Jefferson City segment of this line as the Jefferson City Subdivision, and the Jefferson City to Kansas City segment as the Sedalia Subdivision. The route continues to serve as a mainline for the Union Pacific Railroad.
View an article discussing the 1928 construction of this line.
View an article discussing the 1928 construction of this line.
Located near Missouri Route 141 in Valley Park, this massive concrete arch bridge crosses Fishpot Creek. Built in 1929 during a reconstruction project between St. Louis and Jefferson City, the bridge consists of a 50-foot concrete arch span, set onto concrete substructures. This arch uses an egg shape, which was used by some railroads, particularly the Milwaukee Road. The wing walls of the bridge are typical for this type of bridge, extending at a 45-degree angle from the structure. The structure, and others in the area, were reportedly built by Hedges-Weeks Construction Company. Large concrete arches like these were popular with some railroads, as they were durable, easy to construct and cost effective. These large arches did not become popular until the 1910s, when concrete bridge technology had advanced enough. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with very little defects noted throughout the structure. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Date stamp |
| Builder | The Construction Advisor, Volumes 2-3 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |