UP Shell Rock River Bridge (Glenville)

Glenville, Freeborn County, Minnesota

Default pic
Overview
North span
North abutment
Pier
South span
South abutment
Overview
North span plaque
Missing south span plaque
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
North span
North abutment
Pier
South span
South abutment
Overview
North span plaque
Missing south span plaque
Overview
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Caption:
Name UP Shell Rock River Bridge (Glenville)
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #2440
Built By Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractors Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago (North Span)
American Bridge Company of New York (South Span)
Length 121 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built 1900
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge # 2440
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 5/12/2017

In 1900, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway (BCR&N) sought to construct a new line between their existing system in Iowa and the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  The first 44 miles between Mason City, Iowa and Albert Lea, Minnesota would be constructed in 1900, with an additional 54 miles constructed between Albert Lea and Comus, Minnesota in 1901.  Between Comus and Rosemont, the BCR&N would use existing tracks owned by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road).  From Rosemont to Inver Grove Junction, an additional 11 miles of track would be constructed in 1901.  In 1903, the BCR&N was purchased by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway (Rock Island).  The Rock Island operated this route as a mainline, and it formed the northern portion of the Kansas City-Des Moines-St. Paul "Spine Line".

Due to regular financial hardship, the maintenance on this line was often deferred.  In March 1980, the Rock Island ceased all operations, and its lines were abandoned or sold to other railroads.  The Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) and Soo Line both had interest in the Spine Line, with the C&NW eventually purchasing the route.  During 1982 and 1983, significant money was allocated for rebuilding the deteriorated route, and trains began using the route.  In 1995, C&NW was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad (UP).  Union Pacific continues to operate this route as the Albert Lea Subdivision.

Located near Glenville, this deck plate girder bridge is the northernmost crossing of the Shell Rock River on this line. Built in 1900, the bridge features two identical 60-foot deck plate girder spans, set onto stone and concrete substructures. The northern span of the bridge has a plaque that indicates it was built by Lassig Bridge & Iron Works, while the south span of the bridge is missing an American Bridge Company plaque. It is likely that these two spans were part of an order for various spans, and were fabricated during the transition between Lassig and American Bridge Company. The northern abutment utilizes stone and concrete, while the remaining substructures are exclusively concrete.

Deck plate girders were commonly used by railroads throughout North America, due to the durability and ease of construction. Overall, this bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted to the substructure. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builders and build date Plaques
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele