Robert Elder

This bridge is relatively easy to document. There is a parking area nearby, and a cantilevered walkway allows documentation of details.

Yes, this is a modern bridge, but it is a replica of a historic bridge that once spanned Long Creek in the Melvern Vicinity. A photograph can be viewed here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bkern1989/7155338182/in/photostream/

James: If you feel that this bridge does not belong, than no worries. I added it because I don't mind good replicas on here.

A similar debate occurred on this page: http://bridgehunter.com/il/kane/bh50820/

Anthony had a good point about removing these bridges from the Bowstring category.

Thanks for the link. Those are some interesting photographs.

While not directly related to bridges, tomorrow (May 15th) marks the Sesquicentennial of the Battle of Rebel Creek. This small, and largely forgotten, Civil War battle was fought roughly three miles north of this bridge. The site is not accessible to the public.

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/montgome/chron3.htm

This bridge was built only 8 years later.

Dave:

These MOBs (Mail Order Bridges) are of great controversy on this website. Some individuals may defend them as legitimate bowstring trusses. Other contributors such as myself do not consider them to be of interest. While we all have our own opinions of what makes a bridge historic or noteworthy, I will just provide my personal opinions of why I do not like seeing MOBs on this website.

1. These MOBs have no connection with historic bowstring bridges. A historic bowstring bridge would have counters, which are not present on this bridge. Additionally, bowstring bridges were assembled using built up members including Keystone Columns, Phoenix Columns, and the similar member patented by King. A historic bowstring bridge often incorporated cruciform members which would have been joined with pin-connections.

A MOB such as this bridge has none of those historic features. These bridges are constructed with welded connections.

2. MOBs are mass produced. Therefore they have become a common technology, much like concrete slabs or other uninteresting designs. Granted, all truss bridges are MOBs at some level, but they still required assembly beyond simply welding pieces together.

3. MOBs are often replacing historic bridges or used where a historic bridge could have been relocated. As an example, there are numerous hiking trails being developed in the United States right now. One would think that the historic truss bridges that are being demolished could be moved to some of these trails. Instead, the historic bridges are sent to China to be melted down, and these MOBs are showing up on the trails instead.

So, that is my reasoning for not including MOBs on this website. I am sure that others will disagree with me, but I thank you for reading my $0.02.

We now have two very similar brick arch bridges within a few miles of each other on the ATSF Railroad.

There were railroads in eastern Kansas prior to the Civil War. Naturally, a large number of bridges at that time would have been built of wood.

Brick arches were used during the Civil War era, so I would be interested to find out whether or not these two bridges could date from that period.

Another research project to add to my list...

Jayhawk:

Thanks for the tip. That is some interesting imagery. It does look like the bridge is partially buried in mud.

I guess that is one way to preserve a bridge. Too bad we don't have Anonymous the Pompeiian. He could provide good information about buried structures (although this is in mud, not a pyroclastic flow).

This is a prime example of a MOB being used where a historic bridge could have been installed.

Well, that is two of us in agreement, so I have edited the page accordingly.

My fellow bridgehunters: I have just added this bridge, which the NBI considers to be a slab. To me, it looks more like a rigid frame concrete bridge.

What do you folks think. All we have is Streetview so far.

Or perhaps it was this one:

http://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=049-0000-00041

I think that I may have found your bridge. The one below was located in Elk County, Kansas.

http://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=049-0000-00042

Nathan, that is a good point. We have seen plenty of stone abutments give way recently. I am just glad to see that this one got preserved.

I have been bridgehunting in Geary County since the mid 1990s. The only trusses that have been demolished since that time (that I know of) were on state or federal highways. To the best of my knowledge, Geary County has not demolished a truss bridge in roughly 20 years. That is pretty remarkable if you ask me!

I visited this bridge in April of 2013. It is another historic bridge preservation success story in Geary County.