USC&GS Bench Mark "M 37" Jerry Penry
The bench mark on the bridge abutment has most likely become the victim of theft. The unmistakable hole left by the shaft of the bronze disk is still visible and part of the bronze shaft can be seen in the bottom of the hole.
1934
April 22, 2011
Bench Mark "M 37" was located on the north side of the west end of the former Chicago & North Western Railroad bridge across the Niobrara River just west of the town of Niobrara, Nebraska. This town is located in northern Nebraska at the location where the Niobrara River flows into the Missouri River. The C&NW Railroad built a branch line that began at Norfolk, Nebraska, and eventually traversed north and west to Wood, South Dakota. The portion through Niobrara was constructed in 1902. The entire line was abandoned in 1978. Today the railroad bridge across the Niobrara River is maintained by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission as part of Niobrara State Park.
Looking west from the downstream (north) side of the bridge.
Looking west down the center of the bridge, now converted to a hiking trail.
Looking west from the upstream (south) side of the bridge.
The west bridge abutment. The arrow points to the bench mark location.
The north side of the abutment on the west end of the bridge.
The hole where the shaft of the bench mark disk once resided.
Closeup of the hole with part of the bronze shaft in the upper left corner.
Limestone and shale formation along the west side of the Niobrara River just upstream from the west end of the railroad bridge.
Aerial view of the former railroad bridge.
© Jerry Penry 2011