UP Clark Creek Bridge

Henderson Station, Le Sueur County, Minnesota

Default pic
Overview
Overview
Floor details
Overview
Overview
Missing plaque
South abutment
North abutment
Overview
South abutment
Looking south
Girder end
Looking south
Looking south
South abutment
Looking north
North abutment

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Default Pic
Overview
Overview
Floor details
Overview
Overview
Missing plaque
South abutment
North abutment
Overview
South abutment
Looking south
Girder end
Looking south
Looking south
South abutment
Looking north
North abutment
1/18
Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name UP Clark Creek Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #290
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 58 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1899
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 290
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 57.84
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 11/12/2011; 6/26/2017
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
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. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located opposite the Minnesota River from Henderson, this standard through plate girder bridge crosses Clark Creek. Built in 1899 during a realignment through the area, the bridge consists of a standard 58-foot through plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. The girder utilizes tapered ends, typical of C&NW/Omaha Road bridges. This style of bridge was exceptionally common along the C&NW and Omaha Road, as well as other railroads throughout the United States, as it was easy to construct and durable. Overall, the bridge appeared to be in fair to good condition at the time of visit, with no critical defects noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Build Date Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives
Contractor Missing Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele