Roughly paralleling the Missouri River, the route built in conjunction of another route, running between Mott and Cannonball.
Built by the Western Dakota Railway, that route and the Mandan-Cannonball route would form a branch line of the Northern Pacific Railway. Both railroads would be merged into the NP system in 1914.
In 1967, a portion of the line between Cannonball and Flasher was abandoned in favor of other connections.
The remaining route remained largely unchanged until Northern Pacific merged with rival Great Northern and partner Chicago, Burlington & Quincy to form Burlington Northern in 1970.
In 1987, the remainder of the route would be abandoned by Burlington Northern. The Fort Lincoln Trolley would save a small segment through Mandan.
Today, that segment in Mandan is all that remains.
08/18/21
This large through truss bridge crosses a former channel of the Heart River in Mandan.
Originally built in 1898, the bridge was located east of Mandan.
However, the original location of the bridge was on a heavily used mainline. In 1960, it was decided that this bridge was not a good fit for that location, and it was relocated to its present location.
It is unknown why the bridge was decidedly not a good fit at the former location, as another pin connected truss sits nearby and still exists.
In its current location, the bridge features the relocated 8-panel pin connected Pratt Through Truss. In addition, a pair of deck girder spans were added to either side. The entire bridge sits on concrete substructures.
When it was relocated, the bridge was intended to cross a flood channel. However, this flood channel was never completed.
Overall, the bridge remains in very good condition. The structure still retains a plaque for the Universal Construction Company of Chicago.
The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the lack of historic or relocated railroad truss bridges in North Dakota.
The photo above is looking north across the bridge. The bridge can be accessed by walking down the railroad, which also appears to serve as a nature trail for Mandan residents.