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| Name | EE Split Rock Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #P-103 |
| Built By | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Ellis & Eastern Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Length | 326 Feet |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Quadrangular Lattice Through Truss and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1891 |
| Traffic Count | Less than 1 Train/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | P-103 |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/30/2014 |
In 1876, the Worthington and Sioux Falls Railroad Company (W&SF) would begin construction on a new railroad line, extending 58 miles from Org, Minnesota to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The line would be completed in 1878, and the W&SF would become part of the Saint Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company (StP&SC) in 1879. The StP&SC would construct an additional 40 miles to Salem, South Dakota in 1880. 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. The line would be completed to Mitchell in 1887.
This route served as a branch line for the Omaha Road, connecting to agricultural markets in South Dakota. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. Because of the branch line status of this line, the C&NW deferred maintenance on the route. In 1981, the Ellis to Mitchell segment of the line would be abandoned. The remainder of the line was abandoned in 1987, but would be sold to the Buffalo Ridge Railroad Authority and the Ellis & Eastern Railroad. Through the 1990s, a number of railroads operated the Buffalo Ridge segment between Org and Manley. In 2001, Minnesota Southern Railway began operations between Org and Manley, and it would be acquired by the Ellis & Eastern Railroad (EE) in 2017. Today, the route is being upgraded by EE to secure future operations.
Located on the south side of Brandon, this quadrangular lattice through truss bridge carries the Ellis & Eastern across Split Rock Creek. Reportedly built in 1891, the bridge consists of a 126-foot riveted quadrangular lattice through truss span, set onto stone piers, and approached by wooden trestle spans. While a few other railroads, such as Union Pacific, Rock Island and Erie all used the design at various times, no railroad relied on the design as much as the C&NW. Between 1878 and 1930, most trusses constructed by the C&NW were of the quadrangular lattice design. The truss span is typical of an early 1890s quadrangular lattice trusses fabricated by Lassig Bridge & Iron Works, featuring a pedimented lattice portal, with standard cutout heel bracings. Various sources indicate the truss may have been relocated here, although no further evidence of this has been found. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
Citations
| Build Date | 11th Annual Report of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| Builder | Based on identical spans |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |