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| Name | Abandoned Branch Caney River Arch Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #25C |
| Built By | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Private Owner |
| Length | 14 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1899 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number | 25C |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/28/2017 |
In 1885, the Independence & South Western Railroad began construction on a new 55 mile railroad, extending from Independence, Kansas to Cedarvale, Kansas. The railroad became part of the Chicago, Kansas & Western Railway (CK&W) in 1886, after consolidating with a number of other railroad companies. The CK&W finished the line in 1887. The CK&W would be acquired by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) in 1889, but did not formally convey the property to the ATSF until 1901. The ATSF would be reorganized as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway in 1895. The ATSF had acquired and constructed a large number
of railroad lines throughout the western United States, particularly in
Kansas and Oklahoma. An additional line from Havana south into Oklahoma would be constructed in the 1880s. This line served as a lightly used branch line, mainly serving the ranching industry in southern Kansas. The line between Havana and Cedarvale would be abandoned in 1938. The remainder of the line served as one of the main ATSF lines into Oklahoma. The Independence to Havana segment would be sold to the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL) in 1990. Today, SKOL continues to operate the route between Independence and Havana, as well as the extension into Oklahoma.
Located west of the small town of Elgin, this stone arch bridge carries the abandoned ATSF line across an unnamed branch of the Caney River near Road 11. Built in 1899 as the ATSF sought to replace timber trestles along this line with permanent structures, the bridge consists of a single 14-foot stone arch span. The arch utilizes a standard design, and appears to have been constructed with stone quarried locally, as evidenced by the brown color of the stone. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the 19th Century, as it provided a durable and cost effective way to fill timber trestles. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant defects noted. When the railroad was abandoned, the bridge was left in place. It is believed that the bridge is currently privately owned. 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 |