Crooked Creek Crossing - Bridge 105.9 - Steelville, MO, MP 95.1 - Rolla Subdivision - Salem Branch Bridge at Steelville, MO. Date unknown. Photo from St. James Missouri Library. Copied by Pat Moreland. Edit 1/31/2024: Believe this is the Crooked Creek crossing, bridge 105.9, south of Steelville, MO, MP 95.1. The steel portion of this bridge is a 144"-0" through pin connected trust (TPCT). The bridge in this image is under construction. Note the timber cribbing under the bottom cord stringers of the bridge. In this view the right end of the bridge is yet to be completed. Added bridge narrative, waterway, mile post, subdivision and branch. MKD
When I floated down the upper Meramec River on a gorgeous first day of Summer, 2013, I had no intention of venturing up Crooked Creek to photograph the remains of this bridge that I had not seen in over 20 years. But once I reached the confluence of the two streams, I could not resist the temptation, knowing that it was only a few hundred yards away. I left the Jon boat on a gravel bar and waded up the creek to the bridge, or what is left of it. The date on the concrete supports reflect Frisco's dedication to keeping this line in quality Class 2 shape late into its life even as traffic was dwindling. The abutments themselves are stone and probably the originals from 1872. The first bridge, or at least the one prior to this one, was an overhead through truss structure, while the rebuilt one had an open deck girder span. Photograph 1 - View facing east or upstream showing the three mid stream concrete bridge piers. Photograph 2 - View of the south concrete bridge pier with the cast in date of 1974. Photograph 3 - View facing north showing the the three bridge piers with cast in date. Photograph 4 - View of the north abutment through the trees and undergrowth. Photograph 5 - Base of the northern most bridge pier, possibly part of the original bridge in the water. Photograph 6 - View of the south abutment through the trees and underbrush. Pat Moreland Union, MO
I have a recollection that there was an article in the Frisco All Aboard about this bridge or perhaps it was the one over Huzzah Creek. The article described the demolition of the original through pin-connected truss with explosives. Charges were placed on the structural members at each end of the bridge. The explosions severed the members, and the bridge dropped intact into the creek. The bridges were scrapped where they fell. I also think that demolition troops from Ft. Leonard Wood were engaged to set the charges.
The Huzzah Creek bridge was at about MP 13.4 on the lead branch below Lead Jct. Where was the Crooked Creek bridge located? Between Cuba and Lead Jct. on the Salem Branch or on the Lead Branch? Ken
This bridge is located about halfway between Keysville and Wesco on the original Salem Branch, which opened in 1873 and was abandoned 111 years later. Other than the Sligo and Eastern wood pile trestle at Sligo, this was the only railroad span across Crooked Creek. Karl, this has to be the location of the truss bridge destruction described in the All Aboard. There are or were no truss bridges on the Lead Line. After our conversation concerning bridge restrictions and engine weight classes, I would imagine that this bridge was rebuilt to handle GP38-2s, assuming of course that they weigh more than a GP7. Pat Moreland Union. MO
Indeed, the bridge over Huzzah Creek at MP AC 113.4 was new construction. The bridges over Crooked Creek, MP A105.9, and the Meramec River (2), MP A 92.2 and MP A 109.8, would have been candidates for demolition and renewal.
