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| Name | Luverne Railroad Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #P-55 |
| Built By | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Ellis & Eastern Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 410 Feet Total, 58 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Concrete and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1900 |
| Traffic Count | 1 Train/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | P-55 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 5/5/2017 |
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 in Luverne, this through plate girder bridge crosses the Rock River. Built in 1899, the bridge consists of a single 58-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete piers. It is approached by 10 timber pile trestle spans on the west, and 18 spans on the east. The girder features tapered edges, typical of Omaha Road/CNW girders. This design of bridge was used extensively by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no critical defects noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |