This connection came in 1858 when the final track was completed between Portage and La Crosse. After the completion, the railroad filed for bankruptcy and became the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in 1861.
While this was going on, a bridge was built across the Mississippi River for the St. Paul & Chicago Railroad in 1873. Soon after the completion between St. Paul and La Crescent (opposite of La Crosse) and the bridge, the two railroads merged forming the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. These lines created an extremely competitive railroad between the Milwaukee and St. Paul.
By 1902, the line was becoming increasingly busy. As a result, it was double tracked in its entirety between St. Paul and Milwaukee with the exception of the Mississippi and Black River Bridges (which were rebuilt that year).
In 1915, with the looming pacific extension the railroad was renamed the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railroad. (CMStP&P)
By 1977, the railroad was struggling mightily. This line was considered a core line, and stuck it out until the end. In 1985, Soo Line purchased the Milwaukee Road.
Nearly immediately, Candian Pacific, the current owners of this line purchased the Soo Line. Today, the line sees quite a bit of traffic. It is known as the Tomah Subdivision.
06/24/23
Located in Sparta, this deck girder bridge carries a Canadian Pacific mainline over Farmers Valley Creek.
Built in 1901 and widened on the south in 1910, the bridge consists of a single deck girder span, set onto concrete substructures. A bridge index notes that the 1901 span was strengthened in 1937.
Sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s, the eastbound (south) track was replaced with an identical span of modern construction. Like many bridges along this line, the entire bridge consists of a ballasted deck.
Bridges such as this were commonly used, as ease of construction and lack of required maintenance made for an east to use design. Unfortunately, no plaques were found on this bridge.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with little deterioration to the structure.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.