By 1879, the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgeley Railroad built 29 miles from Livermore to Fort Dodge, Iowa.
By 1881, the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway consumed both railroad companies, and connected the line to their own rails at Albert Lea, Minnesota.
In addition, they built a short expansion of 3 miles to Kalo, Iowa from Fort Dodge; to facilitate the mining of coal.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway became part of the Chicago & North Western in 1960, who ran what was their lines into the ground.
The first abandonment came in 1976, and was between Lake Mills and Albert Lea.
The second abandonment came in 1977, when the Kalo branch was abandoned.
The next portion came in 1979, when the Humboldt to Luverne portion was abandoned.
In 1981, a portion from Fort Dodge to Rogerton was abandoned; along with Luverne to Lake Mills. From Rogerton to Humboldt was abandoned in 1985.
Today, small portions of the line exist as recreational trails. In Humboldt, a trail exists from about a mile north of Humboldt to Gotch Park.
In Fort Dodge, a portion from County Highway D-14 to downtown also exists.
06/26/21
This standard through girder bridge is the middle of three identical structures crossing Soldier Creek on the Fort Dodge Nature Trail.
Built in 1899 using a single through girder relocated from an unknown location, the bridge likely was built in approximately 1895. A faded stenciling says "From", although no more of the stenciling can be read.
It is currently unknown where the bridge came from. Identical bridges are located along the main line, crossing Sand Creek near Jordan, Minnesota.
These structures feature ballasted decks, and stone substructures. The bridge remains in an overall good condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design of the bridge.
The photo above is an overview. It can be accessed from the trail it carries.