Per CB&Q records the Des Moines River bridge was built in 1880 by Dubuque
Boat & Ironworks with five 140' Pratt trusses on masonry. The bridge 2 Mi E
was also blt by CB&I but in 1884 as a 44' plate girder on trestles and the
bridge 3 mi W (South Avery Creek) was blt by DB&I in 1885 as a 88' Pratt
truss on masonry. There were a 1/2 dozen bridge buidlers used by the Q from
Burlington to Chariton with Keystone, Lassig, DB&I & Central dominating.
West Burlington had built 2 by the 1880's and even Aurora Shops provided one
of the 1st.
Ken Martin is right - get those bridge photos. Many are at an age where
replacement is the only prudent course. The engineering firm hired for BN's
replacement of the historic bridge (1868) @ Burlington will have complete
drwgs of the original as well as the replacement donated to the Iowa State
College of Engineering where same will become a classroom resource for
structures' classes. The unique replacement of such a heavily traveled
bridge and the conditions placed by BN & the Fed's have drawn a great deal
of national attention from engineering firms.
Gerald Edgar
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