Name | BNSF Dahlman Avenue Bridge (North) Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #19.48 |
Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
Superstructure Contractor | Shiffler Bridge Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Presumed) |
Length | 369 Feet Total, 87 Foot Largest Span |
Width | 1 Track |
Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Deck Plate Girder |
Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
Date Built | 1893 |
Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
Current Status | In Use |
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 19.48 |
BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 19.48 |
Significance | Moderate Significance |
Documentation Date | 9/10/2016 |
In 1869, the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (BMRN) would continue constructing westwards from Pacific Junction, reaching milepost 12. The following year, a 17 mile extension from Oreapolis, Nebraska north to Omaha would be made, and an additional 48 miles to Lincoln would be constructed from milepost 12. A permanent bridge across the Missouri River at Plattsmouth would be completed in 1880. Since 1880, the BMRN had been controlled by stock by the same interests
that controlled the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
(CB&Q). The CB&Q and associated ownership came in control or
constructed a large number of lines throughout Iowa and Nebraska. This route would serve as a piece of the planned Chicago to Denver mainline, which reached Denver in 1883. In 1885, the Omaha and South Western Railway constructed 4 miles of new railroad from Omaha, to South Omaha. In 1886, the Omaha and North Platte Railroad (O&NP) completed an additional 30 miles of railroad, extending from Omaha to Ashland, where it met the main line. The 4 miles constructed in 1885 were sold to the O&NP in 1887, and the O&NP sold to the BMRN in 1887. The BMRN was formally sold to the CB&Q in 1908, and CB&Q continued to operate these routes as parallel mainline, and a second track was added from Lincoln to Waverly in 1910, and Waverly to Ashland in 1918. CB&Q merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway
to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). BN merged with Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form BNSF Railway. BNSF continues to operate the Oreapolis-Omaha-Ashland line as the Omaha Subdivision, and the Pacific Junction to Lincoln segment as the Creston Subdivision.
Located south of Interstate 80 in Omaha, this large girder bridge crosses Dahlman Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad. The bridge was initially built in 1893 to cross Dahlman Avenue, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The bridge consists of a 76-foot through plate girder span, approached by two 48-foot, one 50-foot, one 60-foot and one 87-foot deck plate girder spans. The entire bridge is set onto stone piers and east abutment, steel bents and a concrete west abutment. The stonework of the abutment and piers appears to be a dark stone, likely quarried nearby. A missing plaque on the bridge matches the approximate size and shape of a Shiffler Bridge Company plaque. Shiffler built a number of girder and truss bridges for the CB&Q during the 1890s, likely indicating the builder of this bridge. The girder designs present in this bridge were commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as they were durable and easy to construct. A timber pile pier has been added to support the westernmost span, and other repairs have been made to the bridge. The through girder span follows a typical CB&Q design, including deep tapers on the edges. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the age and presumed builder.
Citations
Build Date | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Valuation Summary at the Newberry Library |
Builder | Presumed based on missing plaque |
Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |