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BNSF Willow Creek Bridge (Defiance)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Willow Creek
Defiance, Shelby County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Willow Creek Bridge (Defiance)
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 180 Feet Total, 60 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 25 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1905, Extended 1935
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number Z-1410
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2018


This standard deck girder bridge crosses Willow Creek in the town of Defiance.
Built in 1905, the bridge originally featured two standard 60-foot spans, set onto concrete substructures. In 1935, a third span was added on the east end, and set onto a timber abutment. The original east abutment was replaced by the current east pier in 1948.
It is unknown where the eastern span came from, although it is listed as being "secondhand" in the bridge index. It is likely that it came from along this line, as two segments were reduced from double track to single track in 1934. It is likely that the span was either fabricated around 1905 or in 1913.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Serious spalling can be found on the southern pier and abutment.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Central Library
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele