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McBaine Trail Bridge

Warren Through Truss Bridge over Perche Creek
McBaine, Boone County, Missouri

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name McBaine Trail Bridge
Built By Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway
Contractor Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of Milwaukee
Currently Owned By Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Length 185 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Warren Through Truss
Substructure Type Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built 1926
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
MKT Bridge Number 169.7
Katy Trail Bridge Number 6
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2016


Located at McBaine, this massive through truss bridge carries the Katy Trail over Perche Creek.
Reportedly built in 1926, the bridge consists of a massive 8-panel Warren Through Truss, featuring riveted connections, built up members and a lattice portal. The bridge rests on stone and concrete substructures.
It is likely that this bridge replaced an early 1890s truss bridge which had become too light for traffic. According to historical surveys, this bridge was built by Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company.
A few Warren Through Trusses exist along the Katy Trail, and all seem to have been built in 1926. Three different builders did fabrication of these trusses, which are nearly identical.

Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. This bridge is known as Bridge #6 to the Missouri DNR, although it had a different number to the railroad.

The author has ranked the bridge as moderately significant, due to the newer nature of this structure. The bridge retains almost perfect historical integrity. However, this should not detract from the fact the bridge is a beautifully preserved structure.

The photo above is looking east across the bridge.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Cultural Resources Inventory of Katy Trail
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele