Coffeyville Railroad Bridge (South)

Located on the east side of Coffeyville, this through truss bridge is the southern railroad crossing of the Verdigris River in Coffeyville. The previous bridge at this location was likely a lighter metal truss, possibly a Pegram truss. In 1910, the bridge was reportedly rebuilt in the current configuration. The bridge consists of a 150-foot 6-panel riveted Warren through truss, approached by a 47-foot deck plate girder span on either side. The west end is approached by four timber pile trestle spans. The bridge is set onto stone, concrete pile and timber pile substructures. The truss span utilizes a design typical for MP trusses from this era, with a heavy A-frame portal bracing, laced members and heavy riveted connections. The deck plate girder spans are somewhat unusual, utilizing a curved lower chord design. Typically, girders of this shape were either located on viaducts or designed that way to minimize alterations to an existing abutment. The girders appear to be considerably lighter than would be expected for a 1910-era girder, possibly indicating that they were moved to this location. No plaques could be found on the bridge, and holes from a missing plaque on the truss were unidentifiable. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. While not formally abandoned, the bridge is closed to traffic and has not seen a train since the early 2010s. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the truss design and unusual design of the approaches.