The next year, another 20 mile segment from Marengo to Brookyln opened. By 1864, the route opened to Kellogg, located in Jasper County.
In 1866, the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad was purchased by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. The Rock Island completed the route into Des Moines by 1867.
While the route continued to Council Bluffs to the west and Chicago to the east, this middle segment of the route was equally as important. It opened up expansion and gave the Rock Island many connections to other railroads.
Due to the popularity of the route, much of it was extensively rebuilt between 1899 and 1901. While most of this segment would never be double tracked, the biggest project was building new bridges.
Despite the efficiency and popularity of this route under Rock Island, the Rock Island began seeing serious financial troubles as soon as the end of World War II. As a result, the railroad entered its final bankruptcy in 1980 and the property was liquidated.
In 1981, the Iowa Railroad Company began operating this line between Council Bluffs and Bureau, Illinois. Despite the birth of a short line railroad, shippers questioned the ability to effectively move goods.
As a result, the Iowa Interstate Railroad was born in 1984. Since the conception, the railroad has become well known and respected in Iowa. Presently, this route is known as the Third Subdivision.
12/03/21
Located to the west of Marengo, this bridge is the final crossing of Bear Creek, a series of streams running throughout Poweshiek and Iowa Counties.
Originally built in 1901, the bridge contained a pair of trusses. At some point, the western of these two trusses was replaced with a trio of deck girders.
In 1926, the deck girder spans would be replaced with a heavy duty through girder span. In addition, modular concrete girder spans were added to the east side in approximately 2010. These spans replaced standard trestle spans.
The main span of the bridge consists of a single 112'8" Quadrangular Through Truss with riveted connections. The portals form simple X shapes, and a date of 1901 is engraved into the portal.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique design of the trusses and the bleak future.
Iowa Interstate has begun a crusade to replace as many of the historic trusses on their routes as possible. Unfortunately, this truss bridge will likely be replaced in the near future.
The photo above is looking from US-6.