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| Name | Abandoned Salt Creek Bridge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #0.67 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | City of Lincoln |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Length | 230 Feet Total, 132 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Baltimore Through Truss and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1913 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 0.67 |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 1/27/2017 |
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 near Haymarket Park in Lincoln, this through truss bridge is one of two parallel crossings of Salt Creek in this area. This line served as a connection between the two CB&Q yards in the city, as well as connecting to the line heading west towards Seward. This bridge was built in 1913, and consists of a 132-foot riveted 6-panel Baltimore through truss span, set onto timber pile piers and approached by timber trestle spans on either side. The truss was fabricated by the American Bridge Company, and is built using heavy built up members, heavy riveted connections and a standard CB&Q portal. This design of truss was used by the CB&Q extensively during the 1910s, as it provided a durable and strong truss span for short to medium spans. 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. The bridge was abandoned in 2013, after a parking lot was built east of the bridge. 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
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |