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| Name | C&NW Ginger Road Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2810 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | United States of America |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 150 Feet Total, 50 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1926 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 2810 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/23/2013; 11/13/2020 |
In 1884, the Princeton & Western Railway (P&W) constructed a 13 mile branch from the existing Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) at Wyeville, Wisconsin to Necedah, Wisconsin. The railroad soon came under lease of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW). During the early 20th Century, the C&NW began a program of improvements, constructing new cutoffs and significantly increasingly efficiency over the system, particularly in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In 1910, the Milwaukee, Sparta & North Western Railway (MS&NW), a subsidiary of the C&NW, began construction a new cutoff across central Wisconsin. In 1912, the MS&NW completed 23 miles between Sparta, Wisconsin and Wyeville, Wisconsin; as well as 133 miles between Necedah and Wiscona, a railroad junction on the north side of Milwaukee. The P&W was sold to the MS&NW in 1912, which was promptly consolidated into the C&NW. This line provided a better connection for the C&NW through Wisconsin, and avoided the steep grades of the previous mainline from Sparta to Madison. The line also improved the C&NW connection to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul by way of the C&NW controlled Omaha Road. The line between Butler, Wisconsin and Clyman Junction, Wisconsin would be double tracked; while the remainder between Clyman Junction and Wyeville was built wide enough for a second track, but no second track was installed.
By the 1920s, the C&NW was operating an expansive railroad network throughout the Midwest, radiating north and west from Chicago. This line served as one of the principal mainlines of the railroad, connecting Milwaukee to the Twin Cities. In 1959, much of the second track between Butler and Clyman Junction was removed as operations over the line no longer warranted a second track. The line remained largely unchanged until March 1973, when a tunnel collapsed at Tunnel City, Wisconsin. This led to the line being abandoned west of Tunnel City, and a new connection track being constructed to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) mainline, which the C&NW would use to reach Winona, Minnesota. In 1995, the C&NW was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad, the current owner of this line. Today, UP operates the Wyeville Subdivision between Wyeville and Adams, Wisconsin; the Adams Subdivision between Adams and Wiscona; and the Winona Subdivision between Wyeville and Tunnel City. The segment between Tunnel City and Sparta remains abandoned, although much of the infrastructure remains intact.
Located near Fort McCoy, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Ginger Road. The first bridge at this location was constructed when the line was built in 1911. It consisted of a 45-foot deck plate girder span, approached by timber pile trestle spans and set onto timber pile piers. Timber was used at some locations along this line as a temporary structure, which allowed the approach embankments to settle without damaging more expensive concrete substructures. During the 1920s, the C&NW began upgrading bridges along this line, replacing temporary wooden structures with new steel and concrete structures. In 1926, the original bridge would be replaced by the present structure. It is unknown if the original deck girder span was reused at another location.
Currently, the bridge consists of three 50-foot deck plate girder spans, placed onto concrete substructures and set on a 6-degree curve. The superstructure uses a standard design, with medium-sized girders and a ballast deck comprised of precast ballast channels. This type of ballast deck was popular in the early 20th Century, as the panels could be constructed off-site and installed with minimal effort. The substructures also use a standard design for the era, with large square piers and abutments founded on timber piles. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown company constructed the substructures. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. In 1973, a tunnel at Tunnel City collapsed, and this line was abandoned in favor of trackage rights over the parallel Milwaukee Road. Since then, the bridge has remained abandoned. The bridge is now owned by the United States Government, and has an unknown future. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with significant deterioration to the precast deck panels. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |