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| Name | NS MO-5 Bridge Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge #171.80 |
| Built By | Wabash Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Norfolk Southern Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 56 Feet Total, 38 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 2 Tracks, 1 In Use |
| Height Above Ground | 14 Feet 1 Inch |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Concrete Slab |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1912, Extended 1929 |
| Traffic Count | 15 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge Number | 171.80 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/9/2016 |
In 1851, the North Missouri Railroad began building a line from St. Louis, Missouri to Moberly, Missouri. The line reached the Missouri River opposite St. Charles in 1855, and reached Macon, Missouri in 1859. During the American Civil War, work on the railroad was halted. Work continued north in 1865, and a new line was constructed west starting in 1866. By the end of 1867, a new line had been constructed from Moberly, Missouri to Brunswick, Missouri; with the line reaching the Kansas City suburb of Birmingham, Missouri by the end of 1868. An iron bridge across the Missouri River was completed in 1871. In 1872, the railroad became part of the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railway (StLKC&N). This railroad became part of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad in 1879. Known as the Wabash, this railroad had amassed a sizable collection of railroad lines throughout Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. The railroad was broken apart during the 1880s, and this line became part of the Wabash Western Railway, which was consolidated to form the Wabash Railway in 1889. The railroad was reorganized as the Wabash Railroad in 1915. By this time, the lines from the original Wabash had been re-consolidated, and the size of the network expanded.
This route served as a mainline for the Wabash, connecting St. Louis to Kansas City. A number of branch lines connected to the route. The Wabash was controlled by the Pennsylvania from 1931 through the early 1960s. In 1964, the railroad was acquired by the Norfolk & Western Railway, which operated a sizable network of railroads in the eastern United States. In 1982, the N&W was merged with the Southern Railway to form Norfolk Southern Railway, the current owner of this line. The line between St. Louis and Moberly is known as the St. Louis District, and the line from Moberly to Kansas City is known as the Kansas City District. This route continues to serve as a mainline, and the main NS line through Missouri.
Located west of Salisbury, this small through girder bridge crosses Missouri Route 5. The bridge here was originally built in 1912 as a 14-foot concrete slab span, set onto concrete substructures. In 1929, a 38-foot through plate girder span was added on the east end of the bridge. During the extension, the original east abutment was reconstructed to be a pier, and a new east abutment constructed. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Some railroads simply extended bridges instead of rebuilding them, as it allowed fewer disruptions to traffic and saved on costs. The through girder span is typical for this era, utilizing a series of parallel floor beams to form a ballast deck. These types of bridges saved on maintenance costs, and prevented hazards to vehicles traveling below. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some spalling noted throughout the concrete portions of the bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build dates | Wabash Railroad Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |