Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Salem Branch - Rolla Subdivision

Discussion in 'Bridges' started by roger, Oct 8, 2003.

  1. roger

    roger Guest

    Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch

    Meramec River bridge Birds Nest, MO.

    Date 1909.

    Photo from St. James Missouri Library.

    Copied by Pat Moreland.

    Edit 1/31/2024: The steel portion of the bridge includes one 144'-0" through pin connected truss (TPCT), one 143'-10" through pin connected truss (TPCT) and one 153'-2" pin connected truss (TPCT). The steel portion of the bridge is 441'0" long.

    There is a second Meramec River crossing on the Salem Branch. Bridge 109.8 at Goltra ,MO, MP 109.6. The steel portion of that bridge includes one 132'-4 1/2" through pin connected truss (TPCT) and one 30'-0' deck plate girder (DPG) span. The total steel portion of the bridge is 162'-4 1/2" long.

    Added bridge details, number, mile post, subdivision and branch.
    MKD
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2024
  2. pensive

    pensive Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch

    The Frisco's branch from Cuba to Salem crosses the Meramec at MP 5.4, on Bridge 92.2, at Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5.

    The bridge is made up of 4 large and 2 small deck plate girder spans. Cut stone piers along the side are evidence of an earlier incarnation of the bridge. With this bridge, I believe that all the extant Frisco bridges across the Meramec River are represented in this tread.

    A resort and a lightly built vehicle bridge share the site with the railroad bridge.

    Photographs taken on August 28, 2007.

    Photographs by Rich Lawler.

    Edit 2/2/2024: The prior steel portion of the bridge included one 144'-0" through pin connected truss (TPCT), one 143'-10" through pin connected truss (TPCT) and one 153'-2" pin connected truss (TPCT). The steel portion of the bridge was 441'0" long.

    It is believed the current deck plate girder (DPG) bridge was built around 1967. This occurred when the line was extended and upgraded when the Lead Line extension was added to Buick, MO.

    The adjacent roadway bridge is skewed to the angle if the railroad bridge. The roadway is Birds Nest Road. This road crosses the railroad tracks at grade 132' south of the Frisco bridge.

    There is a second Meramec River crossing on the Salem Branch. Bridge 109.8 at Goltra, MO, MP 109.6. The steel portion of that bridge includes one 132'-4 1/2" through pin connected truss (TPCT) and one 30'-0' deck plate girder (DPG) span. The total steel portion of the bridge is 162'-4 1/2" long.

    The Frisco crossed the Meramec River seven times in total. On the Rolla Subdivision it cross the river 4 times, on the Salem Branch 2 times and on the St. Louis Subdivision 1 time. Each crossing involves a substantial structure owing the the potential flood stage power of the Meramec.

    This is 1 of 2 bridges across the river on the Rolla Subdivision, Salem Branch.

    Added bridge details, number, mile post, subdivision and branch.
    MKD
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2024
    Sirfoldalot and mountaincreekar like this.
  3. Morailfan

    Morailfan Member

    Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch

    I saw an old photograph of the original bridge on a postcard once, and it had at least one through truss span.

    I'm almost certain it was replaced by the Frisco when the line was upgraded during the lead line construction back in 1967.

    I just canoed under the new structure yesterday, and it still had lots of debris tangled in the girders from the March flooding.

    The track is growing weeds and trees have fallen across in places, but it's still in alright shape.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2024
  4. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    This photograph is incorrectly labeled as Goltra Bridge, when it is in fact the Birds Nest, MP 92.5, bridge, 92.2, over the Meramec River, about one mile north of Steelville, MP 95.1, on the Salem Branch.

    The bridge was rebuilt (again) in 1967 to handle the heavy trains hauling lead out of Viburnum. The stone piers of this bridge, however, are still in place.

    Photograph from James Memorial Library, used with permission.

    Pat Moreland,
    Union, MO

    Edit 1/29/2024: The steel portion of the Birds Nest bridge consisted of one 144'-0", one 143'-10" and one 153'-2" through pin connected trusses (TPCT). In the photograph the center span collapsed.

    The steel portion of the Meramec River crossing, bridge 109.8, at Goltra, MP 109.6, consisted of one 132'-4 1/2" through pin connected truss (TPCT) and one 30' deck plate girder (DPG).

    Added mile posts and bridge narrative.
    MKD
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 29, 2024
  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Speaking of Frisco bridges over the Meramec, I've always been curious.

    What is the origin of the name "Birds Nest" for the location of the Frisco Salem/Lead branch line over the Meramec River, close to Steelville, MO?

    Does anybody know?

    That part of Missouri, mainly Crawford County, is hallowed ground to me.

    We vacationed there two/three times every summer when I was a kid, fishing in the Meramec, Courtois and Huzzah Rivers, plus hiking, exploring and relaxation around Steelville, Cherryville, Dillard and Sligo.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 9, 2024
  6. wpmoreland719

    wpmoreland719 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I think that Birds Nest bridge takes it name from Birds Nest Resort, the campground which it basically passes over.

    The resort has been there a long, long time, probably from at least 1900, although the railroad was probably there first.

    It may have been a station stop at one time, as I believe that it's listed on some old timetables.

    As for how they picked the name for the resort, I don't really know.

    I have some photos of the Meramec River truss bridge at Goltra near Cook Station that Michael McDermott (Ishmael) took in 1984 during the Salem Branch's last year of operation.

    He was kind enough to scan and forward them to me.

    If Mike doesn't care, I will try to post the photos here.

    Pat Moreland,
    Union, MO
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 9, 2024
  7. Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch

    When I was young I camped there.

    I cast a small Abu spin and a bass saw it coming right to it's head.

    The bass jumped up in the air approximately 1-1/2 feet and caught the lure before it hit the water.

    Only time that happened to me and I fish a lot.

    WOW !
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2024
    Sirfoldalot likes this.
  8. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    Meramec River Crossing - Bridge 92.2 - Birds Nest, MO, MP 92.5 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch

    Back in about 1978, I worked the Burro Crane and retied the bridge over the Meramec.

    It scared me a lot, being's that was one of my first jobs on a bridge of that height. Looking down at the men knowing that a mistake could kill one of my brothers. We took 10 bridge ties out and stuffed them back in. I had to watch myself not to watch the running water below me.

    We worked under a Y order and stopped trains as needed. There were about ten men on that job. I enjoyed everything except the constant threat of hurting someone which was on my mind all the time.

    We had no mishaps and I was glad when they got a tie crane to finish the work.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2024

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