This new route served as an additional secondary main line into Eastern South Dakota, which is a largely agricultural area. The line was extended the following year by the Duluth, Watertown & Pacific Railway to Huron.
By 1890, the StPM&M became a part of the Great Northern Railway. The DW&P became part of the Great Northern in 1907, which continued to operate this line until the 1970 merger with Northern Pacific and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, which formed Burlington Northern.
Burlington Northern continued to operate this route until 1996, when they were merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF.
Currently, BNSF operates this route as the Watertown Subdivision.
08/19/21
This bridge is located about a third of a mile downstream from the Marsh Lake Dam.
Built in 1916 to cross the Minnesota River, the bridge was heavily upgraded in 1957, including the addition of new approach spans.
Currently, the bridge consists of a single through girder main span, a deck girder on either side, and several spans of trestle approach. The whole bridge rests on timber pile substructures.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. However, a closer inspection would be needed to provide more than an estimate of the condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.
| Upstream | Ortonville Rail Bridge |
| Downstream (North Channel) | Granite Falls Rail Bridge (North) |
| Downstream (South Channel) | Granite Falls Rail Bridge (South) |