MKT - Marmaton River Bridge

This bridge will be part of the Riverfront Park in Fort Scott eventually. It doesn't need much work to become a pedestrian bridge, approaches, decking and guardrail mostly. They are looking at getting the rights from the RR company at this point.

There are also 3 King Bowstrings in one crossing about 4 miles up the river which will also be part of the system.

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I see from satellite and aerial photos, about a mile of track may still be in place as far as in the vicinity of Limestone Rd and 19th street. It disappears in tree cover and is hard to tell how close it gets to that corner. I am a railroad and a bridge preservationist and would like to see a partnership formed with the trail organization on this one. Perhaps the group www.heartlandstrainclub.org. with the motor car group they work with could be brought into play here. Preserving a small example for generations to come would be invaluable & could be enjoyed by trail groups and railroad enthusiasts of all ages. Similar actions have happened elsewhere and is not that far fetched.

We estimated this bridge as part of Fort Scott Riverfront trail system. Some interesting fixes...but thought about decking leaving tracks in place. Or scrapping the track for restoration money. Big dump site back there. We have written the grant to pull Long Shoals and they have requested permission from NRHP to do just that.

Robert, coming to Texas to film Piano Bridge. Hope to meet you and will do some reverse bridge spotting on the way.

Julie

As far as I know, the rails have been removed. The only existing rails I know of are the ones in the photograph near the bridge itself.

Is any of the track still in place along this abbandoned route into Ft. Scott?