Future Landon Nature Trail - 110 Mile Creek Bridge

Located along the abandoned Missouri Pacific line north of Quenemo, this Pratt through truss bridge crosses 110 Mile Creek. The previous bridge at this location was likely a timber truss bridge. In approximately 1920, the bridge would be reconstructed with a secondhand 110-foot 5-panel pin-connected Pratt through truss span, set onto timber pile piers, and approached by timber trestle spans on either end. The truss appears to have originally been fabricated c. 1890 at an unknown location. This truss utilizes a design typical of late 1880s and early 1890s trusses, including lightweight members, a light floor system and pinned connections. The portal bracings of this truss utilize a design occasionally used by Edge Moor Bridge Works, although there is no other evidence that Edge Moor fabricated this span. The Pratt design was the most popular through truss design for American railroads in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, and was the preferred design for short to medium truss spans. Railroads often reused steel and iron spans along branch lines to save on bridge costs. Often, when a span no longer was adequate for one location, it could feasibly be reused at another location. It is unknown if this particular truss was altered when it was relocated here. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with deterioration noted throughout the timber components of the bridge. The bridge continues to sit abandoned, waiting for development as the Landon Nature Trail. There is currently no public timeline for this development. The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.