CN&W Maple Creek Bridge (Nickerson)

Nickerson, Dodge County, Nebraska

Default pic
Looking south
Looking north
South pier
South approach
Looking north
South abutment
Looking north
North abutment
Overview
North approach
Main span
Plaque

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Default Pic
Looking south
Looking north
South pier
South approach
Looking north
South abutment
Looking north
North abutment
Overview
North approach
Main span
Plaque
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Caption:
Name CN&W Maple Creek Bridge (Nickerson)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #12
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Currently Owned By Nebraska Trails Foundation
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Length 145 Feet Total, 64 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Through Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle
Substructure Design Timber Pile
Date Built 1924
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned, Awaiting Future Trail Development
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 12
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 5/5/2017

In 1870, the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad (FE&MV) completed a 62 mile railroad line, extending from Fremont, Nebraska to Wisner, Nebraska.  The line would be extended an additional 64 miles to Neligh, Nebraska in 1880, and an additional 153 miles to Valentine, Nebraska in 1883.  An additional 240 miles to Rapid City, South Dakota via Chadron, Nebraska was completed in 1886.  The FE&MV would be reorganized in 1891, and sold to the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1903.  The C&NW had constructed and acquired a large number of railroad lines throughout the Midwest, and this line served as a western branch line, eventually reaching deep into Wyoming.  Known as the Cowboy Line, this line had a traffic base primarily consisting of agricultural products and coal.  In 1982, the line from Norfolk to Hooper would be abandoned.  The Hooper to Fremont segment would be sold to the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad (FEVR) in 1982.  The line west of Norfolk (excluding the Rapid City to Chadron segment) was abandoned in 1992, and converted to the Cowboy Trail, a semi-improved trail extending from Norfolk to Chadron.  The FEVR abandoned and removed the route between Fremont and Hooper in 2021, and the land has been purchased for future trail use. 

Located north of Nickerson, this bridge carries the abandoned Chicago & North Western Railway line across Maple Creek next to the active BNSF (former CB&Q) bridge. Built in 1924 to replace a timber pile trestle, the bridge is constructed of a 64-foot through plate girder, set onto timber pile piers and approached by timber pile trestle. The girder utilizes a standard C&NW design, including tapered edges and an open deck. A plaque on the girder indicates that this span was fabricated by American Bridge Company. This design was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The bridge is now owned by Nebraska Trails Foundation, and is planned to become part of a trail. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder and build date American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele