- 1889: 25 miles completed between Red Wing and Zumbrota, Minnesota by the Duluth, Red Wing and Southern Railroad
- 1890: 91 miles completed from Winona, Minnesota to the Iowa State Line by the Winona & Southwestern Railway
- 1886: 22 miles completed from the Iowa State Line to Osage, Iowa by the Winona & Southwestern Railway Railway
- 1894: W&SW purchased by the Winona and Western Railway
- 1901: 8 miles completed from Rochester to Simpson, Minnesota by the Winona & Western Railway
- 1901: Winona & Western and the Duluth, Red Wing and Southern purchased by the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad, which is controlled by the Chicago Great Western Railway
- 1903: 26 miles completed between Zumbrota and Rochester by the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pacific Railroad
- 1909: Chicago Great Western Railway reorganized as the Chicago Great Western Railroad
- 1920: WM&P fully absorbed by the Chicago Great Western Railway
- 1936: Altura to Winona segment abandoned
- 1962: Utica to Altura segment abandoned
- 1964: Red Wing to Pine Island segment abandoned
- 1964: McIntyre to Osage segment abandoned
- 1968: Chicago Great Western purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1969: Utica to Simpson segment abandoned
- 1972: Pine Island to Rochester segment abandoned
- 1977: Stewartville to McIntyre segment abandoned
- 1972: Rochester to Stewartville segment abandoned
- 1970s-Present: Douglas Trail uses the railroad grade between Rochester and Pine Island
06/26/21
Located west of Oronoco, this through girder bridge crosses the Middle Fork Zumbro River.
This bridge was built in 1903, when the line was constructed. The bridge originally featured three spans of through girder, set onto stone substructures.
At the same time, there were two identical bridges constructed at Pine Island over the N. Branch Middle Fork Zumbro River that were destroyed in 2010 flooding.
The structure over the main channel had more severe damage, as the pier sunk approximately 6 feet.
The other was over an overflow channel and was in good health. This one was removed in favor of a modern bridge. The bridge was scrapped, but one span found its way onto this bridge in 2013.
Through 2013, the Minnesota DNR resurfaced the complete trail and redecked/repaired all the bridges. This one received a new span from Pine Island on the south end.
When the new span was added, the south abutment was bulldozed and a faux cut stone pier and abutment were added for the new span.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as locally significant, due to the common design. However, the MNDNR taking steps to preserve one of the other spans was an important step in preservation.
The photo above is an overview.