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 (South)

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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

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2103

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2103

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek alongside Northwest 58th Street north 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:
24' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

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

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (Ashworth Park)

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IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (Ashworth Park)

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3611)

This Warren through truss bridge once carried a Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Walnut Creek near Ashworth Park in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: Replaced by a new bridge; West span In Use

Built 1901 and 1908

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway and Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway

Design:
113' Warren through truss and 44' deck plate girder

Description:
Warren through truss bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Moderate

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087

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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

IAIS Culvert #349.75

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IAIS Culvert #349.75

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 27th Avenue southwest of Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1875

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
6' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek

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

Chicago & North Western Railway Culvert #2115

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Chicago & North Western Railway Culvert #2115

This standard concrete box culvert carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek alongside Northwest 58th Street south of Sheldahl

Sheldahl, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
6'x5' concrete box culvert

Description:
Concrete box culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS 80th Street Bridge

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IAIS 80th Street Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3456)

This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek east of Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1901

by

American Bridge Company of New York (Lassig Plant)

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
66' deck plate girder

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek

Significance:

Local

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