At the same time, the Chicago, Clinton & Dubuque built from Dubuque to Sabula Junction. Combined, this line created a considerable sized line, able to connect to Saint Paul and Milwaukee from the North, and Chicago, Cedar Rapids and Davenport on the South.
Combined, the lines totalled 180 miles along the Mississippi River.
By 1880, both lines became part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. They operated this as a mainline, as they understood the importance of the connection.
In addition, the line extended to Davenport and eventually Kansas City.
In 1913, pending the pacific extension, the road name was lengthened to the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway (Milwaukee Road).
With the Milwaukee Road struggling heavily in the 1980s, they were purchased by the Soo Line in 1985. The Soo became part of the Canadian Pacific in the same year.
In 1997, the Canadian Pacific sold this line, and many others to the I&M Rail Link, which couldn't turn a profit. They were reorganized into the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern in 2002, which became affiliated with the
Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern.
In 2008, the DM&E became part of the Canadian Pacific again, who currently operates it as a subsidiary. It is currently known as the Marquette Subdivision.
02/25/23
Located near New Albin, this large girder bridge crosses a back channel slough of the Mississippi River.
Built in 1910 using a secondhand span, this bridge features a single through plate girder with concrete slab approaches. These approaches were replaced in 2014 by modern slab spans. The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures.
The through girder span was originally fabricated in 1899 and built at Bridge #L-52 near Winona, Minnesota. In 1910, that span was replaced by a double track bridge, and the old bridge was installed at this location. Built in approximately 1930, likely to replace an older bridge, this structure features a through girder with concrete slab approaches. These approaches were upgraded in 2014. The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures.
Bridges like these are common to span waterways of all sizes, due to the durability and ease of construction of girders.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.