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| Name | Trail 17 - Silver Street Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #G-188 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Iron County |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 75 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1914, Abutments Constructed 1926 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge Is Open to Off-Road Vehicle Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Off-Road Vehicle Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | G-188 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/22/2016 |
In 1882, the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railway (MLS&W) constructed a 16 mile branch line, extending from Monico, Wisconsin to Rhinelander, Wisconsin. In 1888, an additional 27 miles would be constructed to Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin; followed by an additional 46 miles to Hurley, Wisconsin in 1889. This line provided the MLS&W with a more direct route between Appleton, Wisconsin and Ashland, Wisconsin, bypassing the original line through Watersmeet, Michigan. The MLS&W had constructed a modest network of railroads through northern and eastern Wisconsin, primarily serving industrial interests. Due to the success of the MLS&W, the railroad was purchased by the Chicago & North Western Railway in 1893 (C&NW). The C&NW had acquired and constructed a vast network of railroad lines throughout the Midwest during the late 19th Century, and the MLS&W system provided more opportunities for expansion.
By the early 20th Century, the C&NW had constructed and acquired a large railroad network throughout the Midwest, making it one of the premiere railroads of the area. Throughout the first half of the 20th Century, this line remained critical for the C&NW, as it provided connections to a number of lines throughout central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Throughout the mid-20th Century, pulpwood business and passenger trains provided a bulk of the business over the line. By the 1970s, these businesses had largely evaporated, and the line would be abandoned between Rhinelander and Hurley in 1982, followed by the segment between Monico and Rhinelander in 1983. A short segment of the line in Rhinelander was acquired by the Soo Line upon abandonment of the C&NW, which sold the line to Wisconsin Central, Ltd. in 1987. WC became the American subsidiary of Canadian National Railway in 2001, which sold the line to the Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) in 2021. Today, FOXY owns a short stub in Rhinelander, while the remaining line has been abandoned. Significant portions of the line have been reused for ATV/snowmobile trails.
Located near the border between Wisconsin and Michigan, this standard through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Silver Street. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, which may have dated to when the line was first constructed. In the early 20th Century, the C&NW made upgrades systemwide, replacing outdated timber bridges with new steel structures. A new through girder span would be constructed in 1914, and set onto timber pile piers with lengthy timber pile trestle approaches. The most recent alteration to the bridge came in 1926, when the approaches were filled, and new concrete abutments constructed. Currently, the bridge consists of a 75-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure uses a standard design, with heavy girders, a floor constructed of floorbeams and four stringers, and rounded and tapered girder ends. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed the abutments. Through plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Currently, the bridge is used as part of Trail 17, an ATV/UTV/snowmobile trail, and a wooden deck has been added to the structure. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioation noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Build date (substructure) | Chicago & North Western Valuation Maps at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |