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| Name | CN Flasher Creek Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #WA459.6 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 48 Feet Total, 16 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Slab |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1913 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | WA459.6 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 459.6 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/30/2018 |
Between 1857 and 1870, the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad (D&SC) had acquired and constructed a mainline across central Iowa, extending from the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa to the Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa. The D&SC had operated under lease from the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) since 1867, and connected to the IC system by using a bridge across the Mississippi River at Dubuque. This line provided several opportunities for the construction of branch lines. By the late 19th Century, the IC desired to enter the Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska markets. In 1890, the Omaha Bridge & Terminal Railway (OB&T) began construction on a line extending between Council Bluffs, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. A new bridge was constructed across the Missouri River between 1893 and 1894, with the goal of breaking the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) monopoly of traffic crossing the Missouri River at Omaha. Between September 1898 and January 1900, the Fort Dodge and Omaha Railroad (FD&O) constructed a 131-mile railroad line, extending from the existing D&SC mainline at Tara, Iowa to Council Bluffs, Iowa. The FD&O and OB&T were both leased by the D&SC/IC in 1899.
By the late 19th Century, the IC had developed and operated a sprawling railroad network in the central United States. This line served as a secondary mainline for the company, connecting Chicago to the Missouri River at Omaha. In the 20th Century, the IC had become a respected railroad, connecting several major cities in the central United States. The D&SC was fully merged into the IC in 1946. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). The bridge across the Missouri River was placed out of service in approximately 1980, although the tracks remain today. The entire IC system in Iowa, as well as the line between Dubuque and Chicago, were sold to the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CC&P) in 1995. In 1988, the ICG was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1996, the CC&P was repurchased by IC and in 1998, IC was purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, CN operates the Omaha Subdivision between Tara and Council Bluffs.
Located alongside US Highway 30 and the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline southwest of Dow City, this concrete slab bridge carries a former Illinois Central Railroad mainline over Flasher Creek. The first bridge at this location consisted of a timber pile trestle bridge, constructed when the line was first built. In the mid-1910s, the IC invested significant capital into this line, rebuilding many timber bridges with concrete and steel bridges. The present bridge was constructed in 1916. Currently, the bridge consists of three 16-foot concrete slab spans, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure follows a standard design, with heavy reinforced slabs with a decorative paneling design. The substructures also follow a standard design, with stepped wing walls at the abutments and rectangular piers. It is unclear if the bridge was constructed by railroad company forces or by an unknown contractor. Concrete slab spans became popular in the early 20th Century, as they were durable, easy to construct and economical. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations, and remains in regular use. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Iowa Division 1973 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |