Big Cut Road Bridge

I've done some further research on this bridge, and found that the original truss is listed in CB&Q records from the Allen Moore collection at the BRHS archives as having been fabricated in 1872, but no original location was found.

Unfortunately, it appears this bridge is slated for demolition in the next two-three years. If the 1872 date is correct (and other bridge records from the same collection have been correct), this truss should be at least placed into storage and eventually reused. It would be a shame if it was lost forever.

I've made that same comment before CV!

Let's both get one and then we can tag team the bigger ones... And do twice as many smalls!

I need someone to buy me a Chinook as a retirement gift....

I agree. While $20k isn’t a huge investment, it is still a significant investment. Wonder how much a short span like this would be worth to Savanna, a city which clearly values its railroad heritage.

More research on the truss needs to be done. It appears it may date to the mid to late 1890s, which would make sense considering the 1924 NBI date. Perhaps finding some cool historical information on the bridge would also make preserving it an idea that someone with money would be more willing to consider.

'That' hard. The hard part isn't the actual craftwork.

That costs about 20k or more to pull with equipment, labor, transportation, mobilization. Tree removal too.

Money saves bridges.

I would think this would be a salvageable one. The original railroad floor was removed and a wood one installed. Short span, can’t imagine it would be *that* hard to move.

Save the Ponies!!

The pony is a definite keeper!

Unfortunately, this bridge was closed in 2018. The approaches are in poor condition, and the listed as not eligible for the National Register. I'm curious about the truss though, clearly was built of railroad parts. I wonder if this historic pony truss could be a good candidate for a small bridge.

Looked further into this bridge, found no mention of closure, but did find meeting minutes about the closure of a nearby overpass around February 2018:

http://bridgehunter.com/il/carroll/ideal-rd/

Hope this bridge is not in danger. This pony truss clearly appears to be a unique structure and an example of a dying breed bridges featuring creative reuses of railroad spans.

The eyebars look big enough for a railroad bridge.

It was probably built here 1924, after being retired from railroad service.

This was not an uncommon practice with railroads. For example the Chicago & Northwestern's Pre-1898 Squaw Creek Bridge ( https://bridgehunter.com/ia/story/cnw-squaw-creek )in Ames was reused on two local crossings:

https://bridgehunter.com/ia/boone/77860/

https://bridgehunter.com/ia/boone/77840/

This is a very interesting little bridge and I suspect that it was built much earlier than 1924. I would guess that it was built circa 1900, but perhaps anytime between roughly 1890 and roughly 1910.

I suspect that it was probably moved here in 1924. Bridges that were built in the 1920s would be more likely to be riveted instead of pin connected.

I found this bridge closed to vehicle traffic on 2/26/2018. Barricades appeared to be fairly new and clean. Am trying to determine if the bridge will be repaired or demolished. Big Cut Road sees little usage, so suspect the latter.

A wonderful old bridge, but I can't help but wonder how long it will remain in use. A link to a photo taken in October, 2011 - http://www.pbase.com/image/140641242/original

The deck planking is in poor condition, but the materials for repair seem to to be stockpiled near the span when I passed over the bridge March 9, 2008. The bridge spans a deep railroad cut, and is a beautiful combination of steel span and wooden railings and planking.