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| Name | Osage Cuetas Trail - Benedict Stone Arch Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #143A |
| Built By | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 14 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1899 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number | 143A |
| South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad Bridge Number | 143.8 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 3/3/2017 |
In 1871, the Southern Kansas Railroad (SK) would construct a new railroad, extending 10 miles from Cherryvale, Kansas to Independence, Kansas. In 1879, the Southern Kansas and Western Railroad Company (SK&W) began constructing an additional 138 miles from Independence to Harper, Kansas. This route would be completed in 1880. Both railroads were consolidated into the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad in 1879, which would be consolidated into the Southern Kansas Railway in 1883. In 1885, the Chicago, Kansas & Western Railroad would construct an additional 43 mile connection, between Chanute, Kansas and Longton, Kansas. The Southern Kansas Railway would be leased by the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) in 1899, and entirely consumed by the ATSF
in 1901. The ATSF had acquired and constructed a large number
of railroad lines throughout the western United States, particularly in
Kansas and Oklahoma. This line was utilized as a secondary mainline, connecting a number of ATSF mainlines in Southern Kansas. The line between Longton and Independence would be abandoned in 1968. The Chanute to Wellington segment would be sold to the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL) in 1990. In 2000, the Chanute to Fredonia segment would be abandoned, and purchased for future trail use. In approximately 2002, the segment between Oxford, Kansas and Wellington was abandoned. The remainder of the line continues to be operated by SKOL, serving mainly agricultural traffic. As of 2024, work is underway to convert the 19-mile Chanute to Fredonia segment to the Osage Cuestas Trail.
Located on the northeast side of Benedict, this rubble stone arch bridge crosses an unnamed creek. Built in 1899 to replace a wooden trestle, the bridge consists of a 14-foot stone arch bridge, set onto stone substructures. The arch utilizes a typical Santa Fe design, including wing walls which extend perpendicular from the structure. The bridge appears to have been constructed with rubble masonry, likely quarried nearby. A large number of these arches were constructed in the late 1890s and early 1900s for the Santa Fe, as they were durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Records; Part of Railroad & Heritage Museum Fred M. and Dale M. Springer Archive; Temple, Texas |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |