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 standard deck girder bridge crosses the Straight River in downtown Faribault.
Built in 1903, the bridge features six deck girder spans. These spans rest on stone substructures capped with concrete.
As the ninth crossing of the Straight River, this low lying bridge features much smaller girders than found on other bridges. Because the river crosses at a heavy angle, the bridge also needs to be longer than others along the same line.
Overall, the bridge appears to remain in good condition. During a 2017 inspection, significant deterioration and damage was found to the bridge. Due to the low lying nature, this bridge consistently takes flood damage. Mud on the girders appears to have also served as a catalyst for corrosion on structural members.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.
| Upstream | UP Straight River Bridge #8 |
| Downstream | Confluence With Cannon River |