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DM&E Whitewater River Bridge #7

Through Girder Bridge over S. Fork Whitewater River
Near Dover, Olmsted County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Whitewater River Bridge #8
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railway
Length 72 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1919
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
DM&E Bridge Number M-87
Significance Local Significance
A brief history of the Chicago & North Western route between Winona, Minnesota and Rapid City, South Dakota:

  • 1864: 50 miles completed from Winona to Rochester, Minnesota by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1865: 55 miles completed from Rochester to Waseca, Minnesota by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1867: W&StP is controlled by the Chicago & North Western Railway
  • 1870: 11 miles completed from Waseca to Janesville, Minnesota by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1871: 23 miles completed from Janesville to Mankato, Minnesota by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1872: 30 miles completed from Mankato to New Ulm, Minnesota via St. Peter by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1877: 62 miles completed from New Ulm to Tracy, Minnesota by the Winona & St. Peter Railway
  • 1879: 46 miles completed from Tracy, Minnesota to Elkhorn, South Dakota by the Chicago and Dakota Railway
  • 1879: 25 miles completed from Elkhorn to Volga, South Dakota by the Dakota Central Railway
  • 1880: 184 miles completed from Volga to Pierre, South Dakota by the Dakota Central Railway
  • 1881: Chicago and Dakota Railway controlled by the Chicago & North Western Railway
  • 1900: 26 miles completed from Mankato to New Ulm, Minnesota by the Mankato & New Ulm Railway
  • 1900: The Winona & St. Peter, Chicago and Dakota, Dakota Central and Mankato & New Ulm Railway all are merged into the Chicago & North Western Railway
  • 1905: Native American land west of the Missouri River opened to settlement
  • 1906: 76 miles completed from Ft. Pierre to Philip, South Dakota by the Pierre, Rapid City & Northwestern Railway
  • 1906: 45 miles completed from Rapid City to Wasta, South Dakota by the Pierre, Rapid City & Northwestern Railway
  • 1907: 3 miles completed from Pierre to Ft. Pierre, South Dakota by the Pierre & Ft. Pierre Bridge Railway, including the bridge across the Missouri River
  • 1907: 44 miles completed from Pierre to Philip, South Dakota by the Pierre, Rapid City & Northwestern Railway
  • 1907: Pierre, Rapid City & Northwestern and the Pierre & Ft. Pierre Bridge Railway controlled by the Chicago & North Western Railway
  • 1937: Burdette to Kasota segment abandoned
  • 1957: Kasota to St. Peter segment abandoned, and Minnesota River Bridge removed
  • 1963: St. Peter to Traverse segment abandoned
  • 1970: Traverse to New Ulm Quarry segment abandoned
  • 1986: Winona to Rapid City route, and New Ulm Quarry spur sold to Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad amid C&NW abandonment proposals
  • 2008: DM&E purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway and operated as a subsidiary
  • 2014: CP sells Tracy, Minnesota to Rapid City, South Dakota to Genesee Wyoming owned Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad
  • 2008-Present: Canadian Pacific (DM&E) operates the Winona to Waseca segment as the Waseca Subdivision
  • 2008-Present: Canadian Pacific (DM&E) operates the Waseca to Tracy segment as the Tracy Subdivision
  • 2014-Present: Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern operates the Tracy to Huron segment as the Huron Subdivision
  • 2014-Present: Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern operates the Huron to Pierre segment as the Pierre Subdivision
  • 2014-Present: Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern operates the Pierre to Rapid City segment as the PRC Subdivision

06/26/21


This simple through girder bridge crosses the Whitewater River near the town of Dover.
The bridge is a single span through girder, resting on stone abutments. However, both abutments have been encased in concrete.
Unfortunately, the bridge is surrounded by private property and only a few photos were able to be taken. I am hoping to get back here soon.

The author has rated the structure as being locally significant, because it is a very common design through this area.

The photo above is an overview looking west along the bridge.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Bridge Records
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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