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| Name | WSOR S. Branch Rock River Bridge Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #D-114 |
| Built By | Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway |
| Currently Owned By | State of Wisconsin (Operated by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad) |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 80 Feet Total, 40 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1904 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge Number | D-114 |
| Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Bridge Number | D-114 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/6/2024 |
In 1855, the Milwaukee and Horicon Rail Road (M&H) began building a 42-mile railroad line from Horicon, Wisconsin, north to Berlin, Wisconsin. The line would be completed in 1857, connecting to the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad (LC&M) line at Horicon. Soon after completion, communities in the area advocated for railroad service to be extended to their communities. The Ripon & Wolf River Railroad (R&WR) constructed a 10 mile branch line between Rush Lake, Wisconsin and Omro, Wisconsin in 1860. All three railroads became part of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (M&stP) in 1863. An additional 5 miles of railroad was constructed between Omro and Winnecone, Wisconsin by the M&StP in 1868. In 1871, the Oshkosh and Missisippi River Railroad (O&MR) constructed 19 miles of new railroad, extending from Ripon, Wisconsin to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 1874, the M&StP became the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad (Milwaukee Road). In 1883, the Markesan & Brandon Railway (M&B) constructed 12 miles of new railroad, extending from Brandon, Wisconsin to Markesan, Wisconsin. In 1893, the O&MR was acquired by the Milwaukee Road, followed by the M&B in 1903.
The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. Throughout the 20th Century, financial conditions for the Milwaukee Road continued to deteriorate. This line began to fall into disrepair, and traffic over the line began to lighten. In 1973, the Rush Lake to Winnecone segment was abandoned. The railroad again entered bankruptcy in 1977, and was forced to liquidate unprofitable lines. The lines from Horicon to Oshkosh and Brandon to Markesan lines were sold to the State of Wisconsin in 1980, which leased it to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) the same year. A segment east of US Highway 41 (now Interstate 41) in Oshkosh was abandoned in the 1980s, as was the Ripon to Berlin segment. Since being acquired by the State of Wisconsin, the lines have seen a number of upgrades, including replacement of rail and ties. Today, WSOR continues to operate the Horicon to Oshkosh segment as the Oshkosh Subdivision, and the Brandon to Markesan segment as the Markesan Subdivision.
Located in Waupun, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) Oshkosh Branch over the South Branch Rock River. The first bridge at this location likely consisted of a timber trestle bridge. In 1896, the bridge was replaced with a 78-foot wooden Howe truss bridge, approached by timber pile trestle spans. By the early 20th Century, timber truss bridges had become largely unsuitable for railroad use, due to the perishable nature of the structures. In 1904, the wooden truss bridge was replaced by the present deck plate girder bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of two 40-foot deck plate girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure uses a standard design, with two modest sized girders and an open deck. The substructures also follow a standard design, with a rectangular pier and abutments with sloped wing walls extending diagonally from the bridge. An unknown contractor fabricated the superstructure, while the substructures were constructed by labor employed by the Milwaukee Road Bridge & Building Department. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations, and remains in regular use. Overall, the 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
| Build date | Milwaukee Road Bridge Index, located at the Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Public Library |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |