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Iowa River Trail Bridge (Union)

Modified Warren Through Truss Bridge over Iowa River
Union, Hardin County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Iowa River Trail Bridge (Union)
Built By Iowa Central Railway
Contractor Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Currently Owned By Marshall County
Length 260 Feet Total, 138 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track, 2 Trail Lanes
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Schaub Variant Through Truss and Trestle
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1902
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned, Awaiting Trail Development
M&StL Bridge Number 258
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date April 2014
A brief history of the Minneapolis & St. Louis mainline from Mason City to Peoria and Albia:


01/14/22


Read an article about the Schaub variant truss.

This unique truss bridge crosses the Iowa River just south of Albion in a very scenic location.
Built in 1902, the main span is a 136 foot long, Schaub variant through truss with all verticals and an A-Frame Portal.
It rests on stone piers, which are mainly encased by concrete. On the south end, it is approached by a long trestle.
The Schaub variant truss is a take on the traditional Warren design, developed by Julius Schaub in 1901. While the original design featured a combination of pin and riveted connections, this bridge utilizes purely riveted connections.
The Schaub design offered a savings of material and a reduction of traditional stresses in truss members. Schaub considered it to be an ideal link between long pin connected spans and short riveted spans.

Diagram of bridge
Diagram of this style bridge

The north abutment is a basically an encased stone pier abutted against a concrete pad.
It is a nearly identical match to the Bridge near Albion

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the unique design of the truss.
The photo above is an overview on a warm spring 2014 evening.

Iowa River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Steamboat Rock Trail Bridge
Downstream Albion Trail Bridge

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date ICC Valuation Summary Report, courtesy Doug Harding collection
Contractor Phoenix Bridge Works Collection at the Hagley Library and Museum
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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