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B&SV Des Moines River Bridge

Deck Girder Bridge over Des Moines River
Near Fraser, Boone County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name B&SV Des Moines River Bridge
Built By Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railway
Contractor (Superstructure) American Bridge Company of New York
Erector Farrell Construction Co. of Chicago
Designer William M. Hughes of Chicago
Currently Owned By Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
Length 731 Feet Total, 103 Foot Largest Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1915, North Span Rebuilt 1923
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2017


While not as well known as the nearby Bass Point High Bridge, this bridge is also quite large.
Originally built in 1915 to replace an older wooden truss bridge, the bridge has changed little since being built.
However there is an exception. The north two spans were rebuilt in 1923, and likely rebuilt due to flooding issues, or even possibly to fill a trestle approach.
The bridge contains 8 main spans, set onto concrete substructures.
This bridge sits near a YMCA Camp, and can be accessed from this area.

Historic Photo
Historic photo of the previous bridge. Credit to Photolibrarian on Flickr

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

Des Moines River Railroad Bridges
Upstream C&NW Des Moines River Bridge (Stratford)
Downstream New Kate Shelley High Bridge

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Dates American Bridge Company plaques
Contractors American Bridge Company plaques
Contractors Historic Articles
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele