The following year, the route was completed to Austin, Minnesota. By 1870, the route would be absorbed by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
The railroad became a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The Milwaukee Road operated a number of lines throughout Southern Minnesota. This route was the main route to Iowa from the Twin Cities.
In 1915, the railroad was reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway in 1928. This route stayed a secondary mainline until 1985, when the Milwaukee Road was merged with the Soo Line (Canadian Pacific).
Being a secondary route, the route was sold off in the late 1980s or early 1990s. In 1997, it became a part of I&M Rail Link, and later the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad in 2002. By 2008, the IC&E along with sister Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern became a part of Canadian Pacific Railway.
Currently, a portion of this line from Iowa to Owatonna is operated as CP, while CP owns the line from Owatonna to Faribault.
Progressive Rail leases the line between Eagan and Faribault. Union Pacific operates the route as its Albert Lea Subdivision between Rosemount and Comus. Between Eagan and Mendota, the railroad has been abandoned.
06/26/21
This small girder bridge crosses 270th Street between Faribault and Austin.
Located along an out of service railroad, the bridge has not been formally abandoned.
Reportedly built in 1947, this bridge features a short girder main span, and is approached by wooden trestle. The substructures are all timber.
In addition, the main span does use an interesting arrangement of girders, which suggest that this bridge could be much older as 1947. Unusual spans like this oftentimes indicate that the bridge was once built somewhere else, rebuilt and moved to the current location.
The design of the girders also indicates an 1890s style girder. Further research is currently being conducted on this bridge.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. The future of this line is currently unknown, although Rice County has established an authority on obtaining the railroad right of way should it ever be abandoned.
The author has ranked this bridge being locally significant, due to the largely unknown history. However, should more information be found, this rating could change.
The photo above is an overview.