Through truss swing bridge over the Missouri River on the Union Pacific railroad at Atchison, Kansas. Built 1900. Open to rail traffic. Please ZOOM. Bill Note: Yes, I have tinkered with this during postwork:) Several of you have remarked that you'd like to see this bridge in its' open position. I would too. 75-100 years ago there was a great deal of river boat and barge traffic on the Missouri River. In the early 1950s the Army Corps of Engineers forced the river into a main channel and constructed large earthen dikes along the sides back a few hundred yards/meters. This prevents spring flooding but increases the river speed. River traffic has dwindled to almost nothing. Hence the bridge is opened only once in a blue moon...I've never seen it "swing"...it actually pivots open by turning 90 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise. The pivot point is directly below the little white watchman's shack. Today, a river boat would have to call ahead via radio or cell phone.