BNSF Big Blue River Bridge (Beatrice)

Name	BNSF Big Blue River Bridge (Beatrice) Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #31.10
Built By	Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Currently Owned By	BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor	Pennsylvania Steel Company of Steelton, Pennsylvania (Truss Span) Unknown (Girder Spans)
Length	375 Feet Total, 154 Foot Main Span
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	25 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Pratt Through Truss and Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design	Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built	1910 (Truss) 1893 (Girders)
Traffic Count	2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	In Use
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number	31.10
BNSF Railway Bridge Number	31.10
Significance	Moderate Significance
Documentation Date	10/26/2019

In 1871, the Omaha and South Western Railroad Company (O&SW) began construction on a new railroad, 31 miles in length, between an existing railroad at Crete, Nebraska and Beatrice, Nebraska. The railroad came under the control of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (BMRN) in July of the same year. In 1881, the route would be extended 39 additional miles to Endicott, Nebraska via Wymore, Nebraska by the Republican Valley Railroad (RV). This railroad also came under control of the BRMN the following year. Since 1880, the BMRN had been controlled by stock by the same interests that controlled the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). The CB&Q and associated ownership came in control or constructed a large number of lines throughout Iowa and Nebraska, and this route would come to serve as a secondary mainline, connecting various branch lines in southern Nebraska to the main line at Crete. The BMRN was formally sold to the CB&Q in 1908. The CB&Q continued to operate this line as a secondary mainline. CB&Q merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form BNSF Railway. BNSF abandoned the segment west of Wymore in 2002, and BNSF continues to operate the Crete to Wymore segment as the Beatrice Subdivision.

Located in Beatrice, this through truss bridge carries the BNSF Railway across the Big Blue River. The first bridge here likely utilized a light iron truss. In 1910, the bridge would be reconstructed with the present structure. A new 154-foot 8-panel Pratt through truss span would be installed on the existing stone piers, and a 60-foot fishbelly deck plate girder span and a 50-foot deck plate girder span constructed at either end. These girders were reportedly built in 1893, and were likely moved from another location. Concrete piers and abutments were constructed for the approaches, and the stone piers capped with concrete. The truss utilizes a design standard to the CB&Q during the late 1900s and early 1910s, using riveted connections, heavy members and the standard CB&Q portal. This particular portal bracing design utilizes a shallow lattice design, with angular heel bracing. This particular portal design appears to have been a CB&Q standard, and was used on truss bridges from the 1890s until the 1930s. It is also one of three extant bridges along this line known to use this portal bracing design. 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

Build Dates	Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Valuation Summary at the Newberry Library
Builder (Truss Span)	Pennsylvania Steel Company plaque
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

BNSF Big Blue River Bridge (Beatrice)

Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska