This new route used a direct path between Albert Lea and St. Paul, and paralleled a nearby Milwaukee Road route.
In June of 1903, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad purchased the BCRN. The Rock Island utilized this route as a main line to connect to the Twin Cities.
Unfortunately for the Rock Island, it was never able to lure customers in the Saint Paul area to its facilities. As a result, it became more of a bridge railroad, connecting towns.
With a steady decline in company finances through the decades before, the Rock Island Railroad filed for bankruptcy in 1980. All Rock Island properties were shut down, and most salvaged.
This route became a contested route connecting the Twin Cities with Des Moines and Kansas City. In 1983, the Chicago & North Western Railway won the rights to the entire right of way between Kansas City and St. Paul. Rehabilitation work started soon after.
Extensive rebuilding of the line was necessary, as the Rock Island had not been maintaining properties for some years prior. This route required less extensive work than others, but still required a great deal of work to make operational.
In 1996, the C&NW was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad. Union Pacific currently owns this route, and it is known as the Albert Lea Subdivision. It continues to connect St. Paul and Kansas City.
06/26/21
Located south of Owatonna, this three span deck girder bridge crosses the Straight River.
Built in approximately 1903, this bridge features three spans of deck girder. These spans sit on concrete substructures.
This structure is the third of nine similar structures over the Straight River. Like other bridges along the line, the bridge does have some very minor structural deterioration, mostly due to flooding.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as locally significant, due to the common design.
| Upstream | UP Straight River Bridge #2 |
| Downstream | UP Straight River Bridge #4 |