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BNSF Pomme de Terre River Bridge (North)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Pomme de Terre River
Appleton, Swift County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Pomme de Terre River Bridge (North)
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of Milwaukee
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 271 Feet Total, 54 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Built 1924, Approaches Updated 1951
Traffic Count 6 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 19.1
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2019


Located just north of Appleton, this deck girder bridge is the northern of the three crossings of the Pomme de Terre River in the Appleton area.
Built in 1924 to replace an older bridge of unknown design, the bridge features a single deck girder span, set onto timber substructures. It is approached by trestle spans on either side. Railroad records indicate the bridge was last upgraded in 1951, when the approaches were replaced.
Bridges such as this are extremely common to cross small to medium sized rivers. It is slightly unusual that this bridge has timber piles for piers instead of a more sturdy concrete.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. Unfortunately, this bridge could possibly be a target for replacement in the future, as the timber will deteriorate.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design. The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Contractor Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele