Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | BNSF S. Fork Johnson Creek Bridge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #101.05 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York (Main Span) Vierling Steel Works of Chicago (Approach Spans) |
| Length | 108 Feet Total, 48 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder and Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Fabricated | 1928 (Deck Girder) 1944 (Approaches) |
| Date Erected | 1947 |
| Traffic Count | 15 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 101.05 |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 101.05 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/26/2019 |
In 1871, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (BMRN) began construction on 87 miles of new railroad, extending from Lincoln, Nebraska to Harvard, Nebraska. This line was a planned mainline, extending from Chicago to Denver. The following year, the line would be completed an additional 25 miles to Kenesaw, Nebraska. In 1880, the BMRN constructed a 42 mile segment from Oxford, Nebraska to Indianola, Nebraska, followed by a 110 mile segment to Wray, Nebraska in 1881. The line was completed west to Denver in 1882. In 1883, the line would be extended an additional 40 miles to Holdredge, Nebraska, followed by another 25 miles to Oxford in 1884, connecting the two lines, and completing the mainline from Chicago to Denver. Since 1880, the BMRN had been controlled by stock by the same interests
that controlled the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
(CB&Q). The BMRN was formally sold to the CB&Q in 1908. The CB&Q and associated ownership came in control or
constructed a large number of lines throughout Iowa and Nebraska, and
this route would come to serve as one of the most significant routes owned by the CB&Q. Significant upgrades and realignments were made at various points, including a new 4 mile cutoff between Cushman and Cobb to connect the two CB&Q mainlines at Lincoln, completed in 1910. Further work was done throughout in the 1930s and 1950s. 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 Lincoln-McCook segment as the Hastings Subdivision.
Located along US Highway 6 between Friend and Exeter, this deck plate girder bridge crosses South Fork Johnson Creek. The previous bridge at this location was a 50-foot deck plate girder span, fabricated in 1890 and set onto concrete piers. In 1928, it is believed that span was replaced by the current 48-foot deck plate girder span, fabricated by American Bridge Company. In 1947, the bridge would again be reconstructed, with a 30-foot steel stringer span added to each end, and entirely new concrete substructures constructed. The steel stringer spans were fabricated in 1944 by the Vierling Steel Works, and were likely ordered for stock prior to being placed here. These spans were standard of the CB&Q, and could be used in numerous situations with little modification. The deck girder span utilizes a fishbelly design, where the center of the girder is deeper than the edges. Often, this is done where a through girder or truss span is replaced by a deck girder span, due to the height difference between a deck girder and a through girder or truss floor. It is possible this span was designed this way, because the previous span was also designed this way. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design and newer age.
Citations
| Builders and build dates | Builders Plaques and Date Stamp |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |