R
ailroad trestles help us appreciate
the rich heritage and landscapes
of the regions they inhabit. They
span deep valleys, reach over
chasms in the land and soar high above
rivers. They defy the natural topography
of a place and, by doing so, allow us to
appreciate the geography from another—
higher—perspective. But sometimes, it’s
their own beauty that draws us to them,
and as we stand back and appreciate their
architecture and design, we can’t help but
be captivated.
Let’s take a view of some of these
unique historical treasures.
High Trestle Trail, iowa
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The story of the High Trestle Trail is a tale of transformation. In 1912, a trestle was built
to bypass the journey down and back up the Des Moines River Valley between Madrid
and Woodward in Boone County. Sixty years later, the Army Corps of Engineers com-
pletely revamped the bridge, with the new structure resting on a framework of 22 con-
crete piers. In 2003, rail service was discontinued, and the bridge decking was removed.
Today, a trail connects these pillars and enables walkers and bicyclists to cross the Des
Moines River from 13 stories above the valley floor.
Arguably the most striking part of the structure is the series of steel cribbings—43 in
all—that arch over the trail along the bridge. The coal-mining heritage of the region is
honored with these structures; the sensation of moving through a mineshaft is mimicked
as you travel across the bridge and through the structures, plunging deeper into the
shaft. Blue LED strips ignite the cribbings at night, making a trip across the transformed
structure an otherworldly experience.
A View From…
By Katie Harris
RailRoad TRes
emily dUFF
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