BNSF Big Blue River Bridge (Hoag)

Located near the unincorporated town of Hoag, north of 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 1902, the bridge would be reconstructed with the present structure. A new 130-foot 6-panel pin-connected Pratt through truss span would be installed on the existing stone pier and abutment, and a trestle approach would be constructed on the north end. The pier and abutment were reconstructed with concrete, utilizing the original stone bases. The truss was fabricated by King Bridge Company, and a broken plaque bears a nearly identical shape to a Lassig Bridge & Iron Works span. The truss utilizes a design standard to the CB&Q during the late 1890s and early 1900s, using pinned connections, laced vertical 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. A portion of the north approach was reconstructed with modular concrete girder spans in 2009. A large pipeline has been installed on the west face of the truss. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.