Nathan:
That was my thoughts as well - none of these being bedsteads. I have not had a chance to visit one of these bridges to inspect it. The closest type that I have been able to inspect is this one, which I want to document thoroughly next time I am on I-70 in Western Kansas:
http://bridgehunter.com/ks/ellis/bh36264/
^ Definitely not a bedstead.
All examples of this style of bridge (lightweight double Warren composed of light angles only plus a horizontal angle running thru middle of truss) have NOT been bedsteads. In the absence of supporting photos, I see no reason why this one should be a bedstead. There are more of these bridges in Missouri plus a single example in Michigan.
I'm more inclined (Or lack thereof) to believe this is a Lattice bedstead and not a vertical endpost pony. There aren't many of these around so it would be nice if they would preserve it!
...And yes, the pun was intended!
Not being able to edit my comments, I thought I should provide a bit of a clarification for those who might be new to this website and perhaps unfamiliar with bedsteads. A true bedstead features vertical endposts that extend down through the deck and form the substructure of the bridge. If the vertical endposts stop at the bottom chord, then the bridge is not a true bedstead.
The one upstream does not appear to be a beadstead to me. These are some interesting bridges.
Reviving an old thread...
Looking at the photos, I can't tell if this is a true beadstead or a pony with vertical endposts. It is significant either way, so hopefully Illinois will select it for preservation.
As best I can tell from my fuzzy zoomed-in view...... it appears to be similar to the smaller (left side) span of this bridge........
looking at street view this bridge looks to be a bed stead plus a possible double intersecting warren. Thoughts.
I was thinking about Vanderburgh #81 which Dr. Cooper has listed in his database as a Lattice Bedstead, when I made my previous statement. While there isn't photo evidence to prove it was indeed a bedstead he is generally pretty thorough in his assessments. This bridge was somewhat similar to the others, but did feature a arched lower chord.
http://bridgehunter.com/in/vanderburgh/8200077/
But then I remembered the one in Iroquois County.Illinois that features a conventional Bedstead with one of these Lattice structures attached to it. Looking at this one closer I see that it is indeed NOT a bedstead.
http://bridgehunter.com/il/iroquois/spring-branch-1250n/
Back to the Hoosier State, we also have this surviving non-bedstead Warren pony that is simply a lightweight structure with vertical endposts.
http://bridgehunter.com/in/carroll/bh36746/