The P&O began to be leased by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy before construction ever began.
The first section of line was built in 1857 between Peoria and Chenoa. At the same time, the Logansport, Peoria and Burlington Railroad began building west from the Indiana Border to Gilman.
The line from Peoria to the IL/IN Border was completed by 1859.
The railroad entered foreclosure in 1864. being renamed as the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad.
The railroad began to plan a western expansion heading west.
This expansion opened in 1868, connecting to Warsaw on the Mississippi River. A bridge was built to Keokuk, Iowa across the Mississippi River.
The railroad became the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railroad in 1887.
The railroad continued to operate independently, until 1960 when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and Pennsylvania Railroad each purchased a half controlling interest in the railroad.
By 1983, the railroad became fully engulfed in ATSF control.
In 1989, the railroad was sold to new investors, who revived the TP&W name.
However, 1986 the railroad sold the western portion between Keokuk and LaHarpe to the Keokuk Junction Railway.
In 2011, the remaining line west of Peoria was sold to the KJRY, while the TP&W continues to operate east of Peoria into Indiana.
06/26/21
This Pratt Through Truss bridge crosses Hancock Slough just east of the Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge.
The bridge was built in 1890, likely by the Union Bridge Company for the Toledo, Peoria & Western. The bridge is set onto stone substructures. It can be accessed from US-136.
The 8-Panel Pratt Through Truss features pinned connections. It retains significant historic integrity, with the only alterations being on the end panels. Large steel beams and tension rods were installed to increase the load capacity of the bridge.
The bridge remains in fair condition. Because of the limited traffic it sees, it is likely a safe structure. Unfortunately, a similar structure on the line collapsed in 2013, highlighting the need for strengthening of these structures.
The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the common design; but also because of the fair condition of the bridge.
The photo above is an overview looking east.