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| Name | Abandoned Bogus Brook Arch Great Northern Railway Bridge #48 |
| Built By | St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Private Owner |
| Contractor | Ring & Tobin of Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Length | 12 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track (83 Feet) |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1892 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Great Northern Railway Bridge Number | 48 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/18/2015 |
In 1882, the Minneapolis & St. Cloud Railroad (M&StC) constructed a 66 mile route between St. Cloud, Minnesota and Hinckley, Minnesota. The line would be extended to reach Superior by another railroad in 1888. In 1889, the M&StC would change its name to the Great Northern Railway (GN). GN would go on to operate a large number of lines in Minnesota. By 1899, a connection was built from Brook Park to Fridley, reducing the need for this line. GN continued to operate this route as a secondary route, until GN was merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).
In 1983, BN abandoned a segment of track between St. Cloud and Mora, Minnesota. Much of the railroad grade was returned to adjacent landowners. In 1996, BN would merge with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. In an effort to sell branch lines, the segment between Brook Park and Mora would be sold to the St. Croix Valley Railroad (SCXY) in 1997, and later abandoned in 2003. This segment was railbanked for future trail use. In 2004, the remaining segment of track in the St. Cloud area would be sold to Northern Lines Railroad, which abandoned the spur in 2018.
Located alongside Minnesota Highway 23 northeast of Bock, this small stone arch carries a former Great Northern Railway secondary line over Bogus Brook. The first bridge at this location consisted of a timber pile trestle bridge, constructed when the line was first built. In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the GN invested significant capital into their lines, replacing timber bridges with stone and steel structures. The present bridge was constructed in 1892. Currently, the bridge consists of a 12-foot stone arch, set onto stone masonry and constructed for one track at a width of 83 feet. The superstructure follows a standard design, with a semicircular arch formed by a cut stone arch ring. The substructure also uses a standard design, with stepped wing walls which extend diagonally from the bridge. Local contractor Ring & Tobin constructed the bridge using Kettle River sandstone quarried at Sandstone, Minnesota. This firm was involved in building many prominent stone buildings and bridges in Minnesota during the late 19th Century. Stone arches were popular for railroad use in the 19th Century, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations. Today, the bridge is abandoned and privately owned. Overall, the bridge appears to be in 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 | Great Northern Fergus Falls Division Bridge Index, located at the Minnesota Historical Society |
| Builder | Presumed based on nearby stone arch constructed same year |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |