Railroad Bridges in Polk County, Iowa


Polk County is located in central Iowa. The seat and largest city are both Des Moines, the Capital of Iowa.

Random Bridges

IAIS 8th Street Bridge

Image name

IAIS 8th Street Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3476)

This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over 8th Street (former US Highway 6) in Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1955

by

Unknown and Iowa Bridge Company of Des Moines, Iowa

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad

Design:
2-64' through plate girders and 4-35' steel stringers

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 8th Street

Significance:

Minimal

IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

Image name

IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3493)

This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) secondary line over an unnamed tributary of Camp Creek southwest of Mitchellville

Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1955 using spans fabricated 1903 and 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
1-68' and 2-44' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over unnamed tributary of Camp Creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (South)

Image name

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (South)

(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-8)

This abandoned Pratt pony truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek near Grand Avenue and 63rd Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1917 using a span fabricated 1897

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
106' Pratt pony truss and timber pile trestle

Description:
Pratt pony truss bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Regional

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

Image name

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-12)

This Pratt pony truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek in Clive

Clive, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1902 and 1943

by

Unknown and Thorgerson & Ericksen Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
104' Pratt pony truss and timber pile trestle

Description:
Pratt pony truss bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Moderate

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087

Image name

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek northeast of Polk City

Polk City, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1913

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
18' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

Trestle to Trestle Trail - Beaver Creek Bridge

Image name

Trestle to Trestle Trail - Beaver Creek Bridge

(Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway Bridge #130)

This deck plate girder bridge once carried a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway line over Beaver Creek north of Interstate 35/80 in Johnston

Johnston, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: City of Johnston

Status: Replaced by a new bridge

Built c. 1960 using spans fabricated c. 1910

by

Unknown

for

Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway

Design:
2-36' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Beaver Creek

Significance:

Local

Inter-Urban Trail Bridge

Image name

Inter-Urban Trail Bridge

(Wakonsa Bridge)

This historic Pratt through truss bridge carries a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway mainline across the Des Moines River downstream from Euclid Avenue in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: City of Des Moines

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1905 using spans fabricated c. 1885

by

Unknown

for

Inter-Urban Railway

Design:
4-125' Pratt through trusses and timber stringer

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

High

UP Des Moines River Bridge (Des Moines)

Image name

UP Des Moines River Bridge (Des Moines)

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #723)

This subdivided Warren through truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over the Des Moines River in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1920

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
3-153' subdivided Warren through trusses

Description:
Subdivided Warren through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Moderate

UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)

Image name

UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)

This deck plate girder and steel stringer bridge was constructed of spare parts to carry a Union Pacific Railroad spur over the Raccoon River at Water Works Park

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1919; approaches rebuilt 2004 using spans fabricated c. 1930

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Unknown

for

Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway and Union Pacific Railroad

Design:
100' deck plate girder and seven assorted steel stringer spans

Description:
Deck plate girder and steel stringer bridge over Raccoon River

Significance:

Local

IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

Image name

IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3531)

This deck plate girder bridge is the northern of two similar bridges carrying a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) line over Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1902 and 1912

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
5-44' deck plate girders

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Local