Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | Nebraska City Railroad Crossing Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #5.46 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Omaha Public Power District |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York (Main Span) Vierling Steel Works of Chicago (Approaches) |
| Length | 161 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1970, Using a Span Fabricated 1917 |
| Original Location (Main Span) | Unknown |
| Traffic Count | 1 Train/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 5.46 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/7/2019 |
In 1869, the Midland Pacific Railway (MPR) began construction on an 83 mile new railroad line, extending from Nebraska City, Nebraska to Seward, Nebraska. The MPR was consolidated into the Nebraska Railway in 1875, and the railroad completed a bridge across the Missouri River into Iowa in 1888. The railroad would be purchased by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad (CB&Q) in 1908. The CB&Q came in control of or
constructed a large number of
lines throughout Iowa and Nebraska, and this railroad would be a secondary route. CB&Q merged with Northern Pacific Railway and
Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). The bridge across the Missouri River was abandoned in 1982, and BN sold the Nebraska City to Lincoln segment to the Omaha Public Power District. The Lincoln to Seward segment was abandoned in 1983, as it was parallel to an existing CB&Q/BN mainline. The bridge across the Missouri River was removed in the late 1980s. BN
merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form
BNSF Railway. OPPD continues to own the Arbor Line between Nebraska City and Lincoln, with BNSF currently operating the route.
Located in Nebraska City, this through girder and steel stringer bridge carries the Omaha Public Power District "Arbor Line" over the Union Pacific Falls City Subdivision (former Missouri Pacific Railroad) and 3rd Street. The previous bridge at this location consisted of a 130-foot Pratt through truss span and a 31-foot deck plate girder span, constructed in 1888. By 1970, that bridge had become too light for the coal traffic operating over the route, and the bridge would be replaced the current bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of a 60-foot through plate girder span, approached by a 25-foot steel stringer span on the east, and a 31-foot and 45-foot steel stringer span on the west. New concrete piers were built at this time, and a concrete riser installed on the original stone pier. The through plate girder span utilizes a standard CB&Q design, with a floor constructed of numerous parallel beams, and deep tapered ends. This span was built in 1917 by American Bridge Company at an unknown location, and it appears it was modified into a skew when it was relocated. The current bridge uses the stone substructures from the previous bridge, originally constructed in 1888. This design of bridge was used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. As of 2024, the bridge is reportedly operated by BNSF Railway. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the relocated span.
Citations
| Builders and build dates | Builders Plaques |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |