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| Name | CPKC Little Blue River Bridge Chicago & Alton Railroad Bridge #471.8 |
| Built By | Chicago & Alton Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Length | 132 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Warren Through Truss |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1900 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & Alton Railroad Bridge Number | 471.8 |
| Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Bridge Number | 471.8 |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/8/2016 |
In 1868, the Louisiana & Mississippi River Railroad (L&MR) began construction on a 51 mile route, extending from the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri to Mexico, Missouri. Simultaneously, the St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago Railroad (StLJ&C) was constructing 38 miles of new railroad, extending from Roodhouse, Illinois to Louisiana. The route would be completed in 1873 with the completion of the Mississippi River bridge, and would form an extension of the Chicago & Alton Railroad (C&A) system. The C&A constructed and financed the route, in agreement to lease the newly completed railroad. In 1878, construction began on an additional 157 miles to Bridge Junction in Kansas City, Missouri. The extension was constructed by the Kansas City, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad (KCStL&C) under the same agreement as the remainder of the line. The C&A had constructed a modest network of lines throughout Illinois, and this route provided a western extension to Kansas City. The StlJ&C was sold to the C&A in 1899. Throughout the years, the C&A would be affiliated with several
larger railroads, and the railroad primarily operated as a bridge
route. The C&A was reorganized in 1901, and until 1906 was owned by
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railway. A portion from Rock Creek to Bridge Junction in Kansas City was sold to the Kansas City Terminal Railway in 1916. In 1931, the C&A would be reorganized as the Alton Railroad (A), a subsidiary of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The Alton was sold to the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) in 1949, and the various subsidiaries consolidated at that time. The GM&O merged with the Illinois Central Railroad to form Illinois Central Gulf (ICG) in 1972. This line was excess for the ICG, and the route would be sold to the Chicago, Missouri & Western Railway (CM&W) in 1987. The CM&W was reorganized as the Gateway Western Railway in 1990, which became a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) in 1997. In 2023, the KCS was merged with Canadian Pacific Railway to form CPKC, the current owner of this line. Today, the line serves as a secondary mainline for CPKC.
Located on the southeast side of Independence, this small through truss bridge carries the former Chicago & Alton across the Little Blue River. The first bridge at this location was likely a lightweight iron truss bridge of the same size, constructed in 1878. In 1900, the C&A undertook a project to reconstruct bridges along the Kansas City line, including replacing most bridges. The current bridge was constructed in 1900, and consists of a 131-foot 6-inch, 8-panel riveted Warren through truss span, fabricated by the Lassig Bridge & Iron Works. Initially, the bridge reused the stone abutments from the 1878 bridge, but in 1923, the north abutment was replaced by a concrete abutment. The replacement of the south abutment may have been due to the deteriorated condition of the stone.
The truss span is of unusual design, and represents an early example of a riveted Warren through truss. During the late 1890s and early 1900s, the Lassig Bridge & Iron Works produced a number of experimental spans, primarily Warren designs, utilizing riveted connections. Lassig had been constructing riveted trusses for nearly 20 years, and the company was well known for constructing lattice spans. It is unknown if the truss was designed by the railroad, or if Lassig designed the truss. The truss utilizes lightweight members and connections, short panels and a lightweight pedimented portal, which was similar in shape to other Lassig spans. The Warren design would become one of the most commonly used spans for railroad use, as it was durable, easy to design and could span moderate lengths. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. The stone north abutment has begun to fail, and will likely need to be stabilized in the coming years. The author has ranked the bridge as being regionally significant, as it is an example of an early riveted Warren through truss.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |