BNSF Camp Creek Bridge (Waverly)


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Name BNSF Camp Creek Bridge (Waverly)
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #44.82
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York (West Span)
McClintic-Marshall Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Center Span)
Unknown (East Span)
Length 132 Feet Total, 40 Foot Largest Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder and Concrete Slab
Substructure Design Concrete Pile
Date Fabricated 1912 (West Span)
1927 (Center Span)
c. 1920 (East Span)
Date Erected c. 1940 (South Track)
c. 1980 (North Track)
Original Locations Unknown
Traffic Count 50 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number 44.82
BNSF Railway Bridge Number 44.82
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 10/30/2021

In 1869, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (BMRN) would continue constructing westwards from Pacific Junction, reaching milepost 12.  The following year, a 17 mile extension from Oreapolis, Nebraska north to Omaha would be made, and an additional 48 miles to Lincoln would be constructed from milepost 12.  A permanent bridge across the Missouri River at Plattsmouth would be completed in 1880.  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.  This route would serve as a piece of the planned Chicago to Denver mainline, which reached Denver in 1883.  In 1885, the Omaha and South Western Railway constructed 4 miles of new railroad from Omaha, to South Omaha.  In 1886, the Omaha and North Platte Railroad (O&NP) completed an additional 30 miles of railroad, extending from Omaha to Ashland, where it met the main line.  The 4 miles constructed in 1885 were sold to the O&NP in 1887, and the O&NP sold to the BMRN in 1887.  The BMRN was formally sold to the CB&Q in 1908, and CB&Q continued to operate these routes as parallel mainline, and a second track was added from Lincoln to Waverly in 1910, and Waverly to Ashland in 1918.  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 continues to operate the Oreapolis-Omaha-Ashland line as the Omaha Subdivision, and the Pacific Junction to Lincoln segment as the Creston Subdivision.


Located along US Highway 6 east of Waverly, this deck plate girder bridge carries the BNSF mainline across Camp Creek. The previous bridge at this location was likely a timber trestle. In approximately 1940, the bridge would be rebuilt with the current structure. The current structure consists of a 40-foot and two 35-foot deck plate girder spans, approached by a 16-foot concrete slab span at either end. The entire bridge is set onto concrete pile substructures. The western (35') girder span was fabricated in 1912 by American Bridge Company at an unknown location, and the center (40') span was fabricated in 1927 by McClintic-Marshall Company, and was likely moved here as well. No plaques could be found on the eastern (35') span. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The use of concrete pile substructures was typical for CB&Q bridges, due to the versatility of this design. A second track was added to the bridge in approximately 1980. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with minor cracking noted throughout the visible portions of the bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.


Citations

Builders and build dates Builders Plaques
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

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