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| Name | BNSF Bridge #19.4 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #19C |
| Built By | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Length | 12 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Encased Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | c. 1895, Encased 1942 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number | 19C |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 19.4 |
| Significance | Local 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 small arch bridge crosses an unnamed creek. The bridge was originally constructed as a 12-foot stone arch in approximately 1895. During the late 1890s, the ATSF spent significant money upgrading bridges along this route, and filling trestles with arches such as this one. In 1942, the arch would be nearly completely encased in concrete. It is unknown why the arch was encased at such a young age, but this could indicate defects in the stone. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable, cost effective and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Date Stamp |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |