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 Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

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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 Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

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Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 29th Street southwest of Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Abandoned

Built c. 1900

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

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Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.05)

This large deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over the South Skunk River between Santiago and Valeria

Santiago, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1921 and 1928

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4-70' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over South Skunk River

Significance:

Local

IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

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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

UP Des Moines River Bridge (Des Moines)

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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)

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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

Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge

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Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.39)

This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Polk County Ditch #38 between Santiago and Valeria

Santiago, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built c. 1940

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
30' steel stringer and timber pile trestle

Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Polk County Ditch #38

Significance:

Minimal

IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

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IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

This stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Little Fourmile Creek near Lions Park in Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1875

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
10' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over Little Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Local

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2081

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2081

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over a farm road east of Polk City

Polk City, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Unknown and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
20' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over farm road

Significance:

Local

IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

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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