Photos 

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Bridge must be photographed from a great distance using a zoom lens. Note the fourth span behind the trees on the extreme left.

Photo taken by Robert Elder

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Pennsylvania truss.

Photo taken by Robert Elder

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Photo taken by Ruth Reynolds in April 2008

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Map 

Street View 

Facts 

Overview
Pennsylvania through truss swing bridge over Missouri River on the Union Pacific Railroad in St. Joseph, MO and Elwood, KS.
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built 1906, replacing an earlier swing bridge
Design
Pennsylvania through truss
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.75359, -94.85921   (decimal degrees)
39°45'13" N, 94°51'33" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/340724/4402061 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Saint Joseph North
Inventory number
BH 36269 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log 

  • March 17, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Adjusted GPS Coordinates
  • March 9, 2010: Updated by Robert Elder: Added City
  • September 21, 2009: Updated by Robert Elder: Added Movable to Categories
  • September 15, 2008: New photo from Ruth Reynolds
  • September 14, 2008: Changed name
  • July 9, 2008: New photos from Robert Elder
  • February 14, 2008: Added by Robert Elder

Sources 

  • Robert Elder - robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com
  • James Baughn - webmaster [at] bridgehunter [dot] com
  • Wikipedia
  • Ruth Reynolds - ruthmusic [at] yahoo [dot] com

Comments 

St. Joseph Railroad Bridge
Posted March 9, 2010, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

My understanding is that the bridge is still used, but only on rare occasions. If the bridge was abandoned completely, it would probably have to be demolished immediately as the Missouri River is a navigable stream.

St. Joseph Railroad Bridge
Posted March 9, 2010, by Cliff Darby (clif30 [at] hotmail [dot] com)

Not too sure this is "open to traffic"... look at satelite and street view; the swing span seems left in the open position.

Missouri River Bridge
Posted February 16, 2008, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

This four span bridge consists of one movable (swing) span, and three, twelve panel, pin connected, Pennsylvania through trusses.