UP Bridge #134.66

Mountain Lake, Cottonwood County, Minnesota

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Overview
Overview
East abutment
West abutment
Under bridge
Looking west
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
Overview
East abutment
West abutment
Under bridge
Looking west
Overview
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Name UP Bridge #134.66
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #553
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 30 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1903
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 553
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 134.66
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 6/9/2017
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. James to Le Mars segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located near Mountain Lake, this small deck plate girder bridge crosses an unnamed drainage ditch alongside Minnesota Highway 60. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1903, the bridge would be replaced by the current structure. The bridge consists of a single standard 30-foot deck plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed the substructure. The stone for the abutments appears to have been quarried near Mankato, Minnesota, and appears to consist of limestone. This type of girder was a standard for the Omaha Road, with examples of this design being used throughout the system. Deck plate girder bridges were popular with railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Overall, this bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder and build date Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Engineering Field Notes at the National Archives
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele