Rating:
3 votes

Harry S. Truman Bridge

Jackson County, Missouri, and Clay County, Missouri

Photos 

Union Pacific 4433 pauses to pick up paperwork from the bridge operator.

Photo taken by Greg Murray in June 2002

Enlarge

BH Photo #148282

Map 

Description 

The following information provided by the American Bridge Company:

American Bridge constructed a 23-span, 2,577' (785m) single-track railroad bridge for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Line) and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island Line) and connected to the Kansas City Terminal Railway. The bridge includes 19 girder spans of approximately 75' each, three fixed spans of 250' each and a 417' (127m) vertical lift channel span. Total weight of steel was 4,568 tons. Construction began on August 12, 1944 and completed May 29, 1945. The bridge was named for Harry S. Truman, a Kansas City native who had just become President of the United States when construction began. Erection was by locomotive crane, travelers and guy derricks, and 120,000 man-hours of effort were consumed.

Facts 

Overview
Through truss bridge over Missouri River on Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad
Location
Jackson County, Missouri, and Clay County, Missouri
Status
Open to traffic
History
Opened July 1, 1945
Builder
- American Bridge Co. of New York
Railroads
- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (MILW)
- Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (CRIP (1866-1920); RI (1920-1975) ROCK (1975-1980))
- Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
Design
Subdivided Warren through truss spans with polygonal subdivided Warren lift span
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 427.0 ft.
Total length: 2,577.0 ft. (0.5 mi.)
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.14472, -94.48472   (decimal degrees)
39°08'41" N, 94°29'05" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/371694/4333886 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Liberty
Inventory number
BH 37426 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

American Bridge Co. (1,505)
Built 1945 (277)
Built during 1940s (4,093)
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (1,024)
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (1,110)
Clay County, Missouri (107)
Jackson County, Missouri (291)
Missouri (6,301)
Missouri River (119)
Movable (2,970)
Navigable waterway (2,152)
Open (39,880)
 Owned by railroad (12,415)
Railroad (15,409)
Span length 250-500 feet (1,196)
Through truss (15,052)
Total length over 2500 feet (916)
Truss (32,770)
Union Pacific Railroad (2,372)
Vertical lift (420)
Warren through truss (1,615)
Warren through truss with all verticals (400)
Warren truss (6,563)

Update Log 

  • December 12, 2020: New photos from Nick Schmiedeler
  • January 7, 2016: Updated by Nathan Holth: Add info from American Bridge
  • November 14, 2011: Updated by Clark Vance: Noted truss types
  • December 5, 2010: New photo from Mark Frazier
  • October 28, 2009: Updated by Greg Murrya: Corrected current owners
  • September 14, 2008: Added by James Baughn

Sources 

Post a comment here

Comments 

Harry S. Truman Bridge
Posted December 12, 2020, by Nick Schmiedeler (nick [at] nickschmiedeler [dot] com)

Not an easy one to get to, on either side, but nothing illegal to get to photos, train showed up naturally after 3/4 long walk back to car

Harry S. Truman Bridge
Posted November 14, 2009, by J.R. Manning (thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net)

We all agree with you - why don't you take some pics and post them?

Harry S. Truman Bridge
Posted November 14, 2009, by Remick Bloss (madirea [at] cox [dot] net)

More pictures need to be posted of this structure!!!All sides, spans, and approaches.