The aerial view clearly shows the curved track on the west end.
Just an FYI. The west truss section is wider then the other two sections. Each of the other two carried only a single track, the west section was only built to carry a single track, but, it is a curved track to meet with the trackage entering the bridge. There are several truss bridges in this area that that have curved trackage and they are quite unusual.
Hope that answers your question.
To answer Kyle,
I do believe (on a guess) there may have been two sets of tracks on the bridge.
According to this site, the bridge was built in 1905, but the west pratt span may have been built earlier than that.
I am thinking (again, on a guess) that the great 1903 flood may have destroyed a previous bridge that was here that may have had two tracks, leaving only the west span from the first bridge.
I do not know for sure...........................
I have seen this bridge before, it almost appears that the west span is twice as wide as the center and east span. The west span is a pratt truss and the center and east spans are parker. Why did they use 2 different designs, and why is 1 span wider than the other 2?
Correction to my last comment Nov. 28.
It was not this bridge that was Rock Island's, it was Kansas River Railroad Bridge No. 4
Sorry about that mixup.
I have read in a book that this bridge was somtimes called
The Kansas City Rock Island Railroad Bridge
in a book that came out not long ago
From old maps I've looked at, I would guess that this bridge was probably built around 1904 or 1905. It was clearly there as of 1906 but probably did not precede the Flood of 1903.
This bridge was part of the Kansas City Southern.
Figured I would go check out this cool abandoned bridge. Didn’t venture too far out at the ties were pretty worn.