BNSF Rock Creek Bridge (Rock)

Rock, Cowley County, Kansas

Default pic
Looking north
Looking north
Portal bracing
Sway bracing
Inside truss
Lower chord
Looking south
Looking south
Missing plaque
Looking north
South abutment
Overview
Upper angle connection
Upper connection
Lower connection
North abutment
Overview
Overview

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Default Pic
Looking north
Looking north
Portal bracing
Sway bracing
Inside truss
Lower chord
Looking south
Looking south
Missing plaque
Looking north
South abutment
Overview
Upper angle connection
Upper connection
Lower connection
North abutment
Overview
Overview
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Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name BNSF Rock Creek Bridge (Rock)
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #217B
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Length 130 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 25 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Warren Through Truss
Substructure Design Concrete
Date Built c. 1940
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number 217B
BNSF Railway Bridge Number 203.8
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date 10/29/2017

In 1877, the Florence, El Dorado and Walnut Valley Railroad Company completed 29 miles of new railroad, extending from Florence, Kansas to El Dorado, Kansas.  An additional 24 miles from El Dorado to Douglass, Kansas was completed in 1881, followed by an additional 19 miles from Douglass to Winfield, Kansas.  The railroad was leased by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in 1888, and was merged into its successor, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (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. A portion of this line served as one of the principal mainlines of the ATSF, providing a direct connection between the mainlines at Florence, El Dorado and Winfield.  The Florence to El Dorado segment of this line was abandoned in 1942 in favor of the more direct route between El Dorado and Ellinor.  The ATSF would merge with Burlington Northern Railroad in 1996 to form BNSF Railway, the current owner of this line.  Today, BNSF operates the Augusta to Winfield segment as the Douglass Subdivision.

Located near the town of Rock, this large through truss bridge carries the BNSF Douglass Subdivision over Rock Creek. The previous bridge at this location was a 130-foot Pratt through truss, constructed in 1886. In approximately 1940, that bridge was replaced with a new 130-foot 6-panel riveted Warren through truss span, set onto concrete abutments. The truss span was fabricated by the American Bridge Company, and utilizes design features typical on later ATSF trusses, such as massive members and riveted connections, a deep floor, and a ballasted deck. The truss also utilizes an A-Frame portal bracings, standard for bridges of this era. It is unknown when the bridge was constructed. A 1937 bridge record book lists the previous bridge as still in service. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.

Citations

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