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
Located in Faribault, this standard timber stringer bridge crosses 6th Street.
Reportedly built in 1908, this bridge features seven spans of timber stringer. Most commonly seen as part of a trestle, timber stringers were the most economical and widely used bridge type on branch lines.
The unique feature of this bridge is the use of a concrete pier. It is unknown why one was built, but it could have been a part of a cancelled project.
Overall, the bridge appears to remain in fair condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being minimally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.