The Sibley Bridge Company was chartered in 1888 to construct the large bridge across the Missouri River at Sibley. Similarly, the Mississippi River Railroad & Toll Bridge Company constructed the bridge across the Mississippi River.
The entire line became part of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1900. This mainline would see heavy reconstruction throughout the first decade of the 20th century. Reconstruction included tasks such as relocation and double tracking.
The line was critical to the development of the State of Missouri. The line provided the quickest and most direct route between the agricultural center at Kansas City and Chicago.
Throughout the 20th Century, the line remained one of the most critical rail lines in the United States. The heavy duty mainline saw guards during World War II, due to the critical connection between Southern California and Chicago.
Despite the importance of the line, the ATSF would see serious financial issues in the late 20th century. Because of this, they merged with rival Burlington Northern to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently operates the line as the Marceline Subdivision; and it is a part of the greater Southern Transcon Line; completed in 1908.
The line connects to the equally as important Chillicothe Subdivision on the east, and the Emporia Subdivision on the west.
06/26/21
Hidden on a back road of Carroll County was this gem of a bridge.
The medium sized pin connected Pratt Through Truss once crossed the BNSF mainline near Bosworth. It was built using a former railroad bridge, which was decked and used for road use.
It is unknown where this bridge originally came from, although local residents believe it came from the nearby Grand River Bridge. The author believes this is actually likely, due to the proximity and dates matching up. The author was informed that the bridge was likely built in 1887, before being moved by railroad car to the County Road 314 site in 1911.
An identical bridge exists over this same mainline in Jackson County, and also carries road traffic. The author is unsure if this means these structures were once part of the same bridge, or if it was a standard plan for railroad bridge.
The bridge here is was single span, 9-panel pin connected Pratt Through Truss. The portal bracings of this bridge suggest Edge Moor Bridge Works; although this has not been confirmed. An inventory of historic Missouri bridges suggested this builder. The bridge sat on concrete substructures.
It appears that the floor was rebuilt to be more appropriate for wagon and later automobile traffic. Santa Fe records indicate this could have happened in 1929, when the deck was rebuilt.
Unfortunately, the bridge was removed and replaced with a new bridge in the fall of 2020. In previous inspections, the bridge had an above average rating for its age and design, leading to questions on why the bridge was replaced.
Fortunately, a nearby citizen asked the company removing the bridge about setting the bridge down in their field. The construction company agreed, and the bridge has been set in a field nearby, where it will hopefully remain for generations to come.
The author was very excited to see the bridge was saved, and is even more excited about how the bridge was quite literally given away for nothing. It appears that at least some construction companies are willing to help private citizens save these bridges, for little or no cost.
The author has ranked the bridge as being regionally significant, due to the historic age of the bridge, as well as the re-purposing of a railroad bridge.
The photo above is looking west across the bridge.