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| Name | BNSF Golden Avenue Bridge (South) Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge #51A |
| Built By | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 89 Feet Total, 75 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 14 Feet 6 Inches |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Concrete and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1907, Approach Constructed 1927 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Bridge Number | 51A |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 51.31 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/31/2019 |
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 east side of Topeka, this through girder bridge is the southern of two similar bridge over Golden Avenue. Shunganunga Creek originally crossed underneath this bridge, but was rerouted in the late 1950s due to flooding. This bridge was originally built in 1907 as the nearby yard expanded. The bridge consists of a single 75-foot "class DD" through plate girder span, set onto a concrete abutment and pier. In 1927, six timber pile trestle spans were added to the west end of the bridge. During the late 1980s or early 1990s, all but one of these trestle spans were filled. The girder utilizes a standard Santa Fe design, including rounded edges, a heavily constructed floor and a ballast deck. This design was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The bridge now serves the main track, which bypasses the shops to the west. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common 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 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |