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
This large deck truss bridge crosses the Straight River approximately two miles north of Owatonna, or near the ghost town of Clinton Falls.
Originally built in 1901, the bridge is located on a large sweeping curve. This large curve is a portion of track where the Union Pacific crosses both this river and a railroad.
With minimal changes since construction, the main span of the bridge consists of a massive 10 panel riveted Warren Deck Truss. It is approached by a deck girder span on either side.
For reasons unknown, this bridge has different substructures than similar bridges. It is likely that this bridge was originally constructed with stone substructures, but the piers appear to have been encased.
The largest of all bridges on the line between the Twin Cities and Des Moines, this structure crosses over the Straight River approximately 50 feet above the surface of the water.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition. A majority of the bridge appears to be in a very good condition, surprising for former Rock Island bridges.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the rare occurrence of a Warren Deck Truss in Minnesota. Of the nine similar spans in Minnesota, five are former Soo Line Spans. A similar former Rock Island span seems to exist near Union, Missouri.
The photo above is an overview.
| Upstream | Medford Rail Bridge |
| Downstream | DM&E Straight River Bridge |