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.
02/25/23
This bridge is simply put, one of the most significant structures in the state of Minnesota.
Likely the oldest railroad feature, and definitely the oldest railroad bridge, it is a concealed and commonly overlooked structure.
Built in 1865 as the railroad began building a swing bridge around Fort Snelling, photographic evidence shows the 1865 date to be correct.
The bridge itself is in a fair to poor condition, and is held up by large concrete panels on the west face.
When built, bridge was originally built to cross the road to Sibley's Ferry, the major road crossing to Fort Snelling at the time.
In 2018, the bridge is largely abandoned, although it has receives some attention by walkers, hikers and others who stop to admire it.
The author has ranked this bridge as being highly significant, due to the age and preservation.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from the road it crosses.