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| Name | BNSF 48th Street Bridge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #55.58 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Omaha Steel Works of Omaha, Nebraska |
| Substructure Contractor | Robinson Contractors of Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Length | 131 Feet Total, 61 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 2 Tracks |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1938 |
| Traffic Count | 50 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 55.58 |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 55.58 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/7/2019 |
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 on the northeast side of Lincoln, this through girder bridge carries a busy BNSF mainline across 48th Street. Built in 1938 as part of a grade separation project, the bridge consists of a single 61-foot through girder span, approached by a 35-foot steel stringer span on either side. The entire bridge is set onto concrete substructures, and the bridge utilizes a ballast deck. The substructures of the bridge have decorative concrete insets, typical for grade separations of this era. A plaque on the main span indicates it was built by the Omaha Steel Works, and the substructures were reportedly built by Robinson Contracting. The main span of the bridge utilizes a design typical for the CB&Q, including a ballast floor and deep tapered edges. A second underpass once existed immediately south of this bridge to carry the Rock Island, but this bridge was removed in the 1980s. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design and unique builders.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Omaha Steel Works plaque |
| Builder (Ssubstructure) | Railway Age; Volume 105 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |