UP Boyer River Bridge #4

A brief history of the Chicago & North Western Iowa Division mainline, now part of the Overland Route:

• 1857: 44 miles completed from Clinton to Wheatland, Iowa by the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad
• 1858: 20 miles completed from Wheatland to Lisbon, Iowa by the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad
• 1859: 17 miles completed from Lisbon to Cedar Rapids, Iowa by the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad
• 1861: 41 miles completed from Cedar Rapids to Belle Plaine, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1861: 41 miles completed from Cedar Rapids to Chelsea, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1862: 29 miles completed from Chelsea to Marshalltown, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1864: 29 miles completed from Marshalltown to Nevada, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1865: 29 miles completed from Nevada to Boone, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1867: 150 miles completed from Boone to Council Bluffs, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1867: 6 miles completed from Missouri Valley to California Junction, Iowa by the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad
• 1884: CI&N and CR&MR officially acquired by Chicago & North Western Railway
• 1887: 6 miles completed from Beverly to Otis, Iowa bypassing Cedar Rapids by the Linn County Railway
• 1887: Linn County Railway acquired by Chicago & North Western Railway
• 1891-98: Second track constructed between Clinton and Cedar River
• 1898-1900: Second track constructed between Cedar River and Mashalltown
• 1898-1901: New alignment completed between Boone and Ogden, Iowa; including the Des Moines River Bridge
• 1900-02: Second track constructed between Marshalltown and Council Bluffs
• 1933: Old route via Moingona between Boone and Ogden abandoned
• 1995: Chicago & North Western purchased by Union Pacific Railroad
• 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the Clinton Subdivision between Clinton and Boone
• 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the Boone Subdivision between Boone and Missouri Valley
• 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the Omaha Subdivision between Missouri Valley and Council Bluffs

06/26/21

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This beautiful truss bridge is a remain of when the line was initially double tracked.
The bridge features a single Quadrangular Through Truss span, with riveted connections and M-Frame Portal Bracing. This span sits on concrete substructures.
It is similar to many other trusses along the line, although the other Boyer River bridges were replaced in the 1940s.
The current channel was cut in the late 1800s, likely as a diversion channel. An older channel ran a more southern course.
The bridge is also approached by modern concrete slab spans. These spans were likely added recently, as the bridge appears to have one modification.
Due to the flooding of the river and the area, it appears the bridge was raised up recently. This could explain the presence of the concrete approaches, and the piers that are former abutments.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. The bridge can be accessed from a minimum maintenance road.

The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is an overview.

Boyer River Railroad Bridges

Upstream	CN Boyer River Bridge #10
Old Channel	CN Old Boyer River Bridge
Downstream	Confluence with Missouri River