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Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

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Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, Farmington, Van Buren County

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Inventory Number: IA/15-89-01x
County: Van Buren County
Township: Farmington
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, Farmington
Crosses: Des Moines River
Truss type: Howe
Spans: 5
Length: 825'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1871
Builder:
When Lost: c1904 or 1906
Cause: Replaced
Latitude: N40 38.523
Longitude: W091 44.798
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: Burlington & Southwestern Railroad at Farmington.

Burlington & Southwestern Railroad, Farmington Bridge, Farmington, Van Buren County, IA Built 1871 Replaced c1904 or 1906
Todd Clark Collection

Comments:
14-panel truss. It was believed that the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad's bridge at Farmington was the world's longest covered railroad bridge at the time it was finished in 1871 (825 feet between shore abutments). William Franklin McLintock was reportedly the engineer for the bridge. It was probably 5 spans, based on the piers left in the river. A 1906 postcard confirms the count, but shows only two of the spans as wood trusses, each of which has been uncovered.

Source:

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