BNSF Wakarusa River Bridge (Eudora)

Name	BNSF Wakarusa River Bridge (Eudora) Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #19D
Built By	Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Currently Owned By	BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor	American Bridge Works of Chicago
Length	247 Feet Total, 164 Foot Main Span
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Pratt Through Truss and Concrete Modular Girder
Substructure Design	Concrete and Steel Pile
Date Built	1897, Approach Reconstructed 2008
Traffic Count	10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	In Use
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number	19D
BNSF Railway Bridge Number	19.6
Significance	Moderate Significance
Documentation Date	9/22/2018

In 1865, the St. Louis, Lawrence and Denver Railroad (StLL&D) completed a 17 mile railroad, extending from Lawrence, Kansas to DeSoto, Kansas. In 1869, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) constructed 27 miles from Topeka, Kansas to Burlingame, Kansas; and the following year, an additional 34 miles to Emporia were completed. In 1871, the Lawrence and Topeka Railway (L&T) completed an additional 22 miles from Lawrence to Topeka, Kansas. In 1874, the StLL&D was reorganized as the St. Louis, Lawrence & Western Railroad (StLL&W). In 1875, both railroads were conveyed to the Kansas City, Topeka & Western Railroad (KCT&W). The same year, the KCT&W completed an additional 23 miles between DeSoto and the Kansas City Union Station. The KCT&W would be leased by the ATSF in 1880. The ATSF changed its name to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) in 1895, and the KCT&W was consolidated into the ATSF in 1899. The ATSF had acquired and constructed a large number of railroad lines throughout the western United States, particularly in Kansas and Oklahoma. This line served as one of two mainlines connecting Kansas City to Emporia. The ATSF would merge with Burlington Northern Railroad in 1996 to form BNSF Railway, the current owner of this line. The Holliday to Topeka to Emporia segment of this line is operated as the Topeka Subdivision.

Located on the west side of Eudora, this through truss bridge crosses the Wakarusa River. The first bridge here was likely a timber truss bridge. In 1897, the current truss bridge would be constructed. The bridge initially utilized a single 164-foot 8-panel pin-connected Pratt through truss, set onto timber substructures and approached by timber pile trestle. In 1920, the west abutment would be reconstructed in concrete, and in 1936 the bridge would be significantly rehabilitated. A concrete pier was added to the east end of the truss, and a trestle approach reconstructed. The truss would also be converted to a ballast deck structure. The most recent alterations came in 2008, when the east approach was reconstructed with modular concrete spans. The truss utilizes a lattice portal and lightweight members, typical of ATSF bridges from this era. This particular design was used at a number of locations throughout Kansas, likely as part of the same order from American Bridge Works. Few alterations have been made to the bridge since initial construction, other than minor repairs to the joints of the truss. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with little significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss 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
Builder	Engineering News and American Railway Journal; Volume 38, Issue 27
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

BNSF Wakarusa River Bridge (Eudora)

Eudora, Douglas County, Kansas