The Wabash Railroad Bridge across the Missouri River is actually the second bridge to span the river at this location. The first, finished in 1871, was replaced by the current bridge in 1936.

It is a massive, hulking structure that impresses with its shear size, towering just downriver from St. Charles.

Looking closely at the piers in the river, I suspect that the new bridge used the old piers made out of cut stone, and merely added poured concrete, which by the 1930’s had become prevalent in bridge construction, on top of the old masonry piers.

You can see how low the water level is by the markings on the pier.