Railblazer
Westbound Intermodal Train BNSF 7998 Missouri River Bridge Sibley Missouri
BNSF's only remaining section of single track on their Marceline Subdivsion stands tall as four GE's led by ES44C4 7998 lead an intermodal train acrosss the entire 4082 foot length of the Missouri River Bridge at Sibley, Missouri. November 26, 2023. An original 1887 three span Whipple Through Truss bridge at this location was replaced in segments by this structure between 1912-1915.
As early as 1905, the railroad considered building a new double track swing bridge on a lower alignment to replace the original 1887 span. Deemed too expensive along with severe grade issues on the south bank of the river, railroad management instead decided to replace the existing Whipple Through Trusses with three larger and much stronger Pennsylvania Through Trusses.
The current bridge consists of three main spans at 396 feet each. The north, (railroad east) approach to the river crossing totals just under 2600 feet while the south (railroad west) approach totals 280 feet. Opening up this photo location nicely, tree removal and clearing work was completed for a second bridge to be built next to the existing bridge but rumors persist that the project is on hold due to current economic conditions and traffic density.
Westbound Intermodal Train BNSF 7998 Missouri River Bridge Sibley Missouri
BNSF's only remaining section of single track on their Marceline Subdivsion stands tall as four GE's led by ES44C4 7998 lead an intermodal train acrosss the entire 4082 foot length of the Missouri River Bridge at Sibley, Missouri. November 26, 2023. An original 1887 three span Whipple Through Truss bridge at this location was replaced in segments by this structure between 1912-1915.
As early as 1905, the railroad considered building a new double track swing bridge on a lower alignment to replace the original 1887 span. Deemed too expensive along with severe grade issues on the south bank of the river, railroad management instead decided to replace the existing Whipple Through Trusses with three larger and much stronger Pennsylvania Through Trusses.
The current bridge consists of three main spans at 396 feet each. The north, (railroad east) approach to the river crossing totals just under 2600 feet while the south (railroad west) approach totals 280 feet. Opening up this photo location nicely, tree removal and clearing work was completed for a second bridge to be built next to the existing bridge but rumors persist that the project is on hold due to current economic conditions and traffic density.