Wisconsin Central Railway


Abandoned East Channel Bridge

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Abandoned East Channel Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #980)

This long abandoned curved deck plate girder bridge crosses the east channel of the Mississippi River

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: City of Minneapolis

Status: Closed to all traffic

Built 1901

by

American Bridge Company (Lassig Branch of Chicago)

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
Curved 3 span deck plate girder

Description:
Abandoned deck plate girder bridge over East Channel of Mississippi River

Significance:

Local

Bessemer Railroad Crossing

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Bessemer Railroad Crossing

This Baltimore through truss bridge carries the former Soo Line Bessemer Branch over the former Chicago & North Western Railway west of Bessemer

Bessemer, Gogebic County, Michigan

Owner: Gogebic County

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1896

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
120' Baltimore through truss

Description:
Baltimore through truss bridge over Trail 2 (former Chicago & North Western Railway)

Significance:

Regional

Boom Island Pedestrian Bridge

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Boom Island Pedestrian Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #981)

This Pratt through truss bridge has been preserved as a pedestrian bridge

Downtown, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Owner: City of Minneapolis

Status: Open to trail traffic

Built 1901

by

Butler-Ryan Company of St. Paul, Minnesota and designed by Charles Frederick Lowrth

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
175' pin connected Pratt through truss

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over East Channel of Mississippi River

Significance:

Regional

CN Arcola Trail Bridge

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CN Arcola Trail Bridge

This steel stringer bridge crosses Arcola Trail north of Stillwater

Stillwater, Washington County, Minnesota

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built c. 1911

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
23' steel stringer and trestle

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over Arcola Trail

Significance:

Local

CN Balch Street Bridge

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CN Balch Street Bridge

This filled-in concrete arch bridge carries the former Soo Line mainline over former Balch Street in Waupaca

Waupaca, Waupaca County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use and Filled In

Built 1906

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
24' concrete arch

Description:
Filled-in concrete arch bridge over Balch Street

Significance:

Local

CN Chippewa River Bridge (Murry)

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CN Chippewa River Bridge (Murry)

This heavily modified Pratt through truss bridge carries the former Soo Line over the Chippewa River near Murry in rural Rusk County

Murry, Rusk County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1907 and c. 1960

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
2-149' Pratt through trusses, 2-42' and 2-40' steel stringer

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Chippewa River

Significance:

Moderate

CN Flambeau River Bridge (West)

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CN Flambeau River Bridge (West)

This large Pratt deck truss bridge carries the former Soo Line over the Flambeau River in Ladysmith

Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1906 and c. 1960

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
3-150' Pratt deck trusses, 1-50', 2-42', 1-39' steel stringers

Description:
Pratt deck truss bridge over Flambeau River

Significance:

Moderate

CN Main Street Bridge (Amherst)

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CN Main Street Bridge (Amherst)

This attractive concrete arch bridge carries the former Soo Line mainline over Main Street in Amherst

Amherst, Portage County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1908

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
3-30' concrete arches

Description:
Concrete arch bridge over Main Street

Significance:

Moderate

CN Red Cedar River Bridge (Colfax)

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CN Red Cedar River Bridge (Colfax)

(Wisconsin Central Railway Bridge #772)

This unusual Pennsylvania through truss bridge carries the former Soo Line mainline over the Red Cedar River west of Colfax

Colfax, Dunn County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1906

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
240' Pennsylvania through truss

Description:
Pennsylvania through truss bridge over Red Cedar River

Significance:

Regional

CN Thornapple River Bridge

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CN Thornapple River Bridge

This Pratt through truss and concrete arch bridge carries the former Soo Line over the Thornapple River northwest of Ladysmith in rural Rusk County

Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1907

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
125' Pratt through truss and 1-37' and 3-23' concrete arches

Description:
Pratt through truss and concrete arch bridge over Thornapple River

Significance:

Moderate

Gateway State Trail - Keller Lake Bridge

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Gateway State Trail - Keller Lake Bridge

This concrete arch bridge crosses the channel between Keller Lake and Round Lake

St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota

Owner: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Status: Open to Trail Traffic

Built 1906

by

Unknown

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
2-38' concrete arches

Description:
Concrete arch bridge over Keller Lake Outlet

Significance:

Local

Hurley Railroad Crossing

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Hurley Railroad Crossing

This unique Baltimore through truss bridge carries the former Soo Line Bessemer Branch over Trail 2 (former Chicago & North Western Railway) west of Hurley

Hurley, Iron County, Wisconsin

Owner: Iron County

Status: Abandoned

Built 1899

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
125' Baltimore through truss

Description:
Baltimore through truss bridge over Trail 2 (former Chicago & North Western Railway)

Significance:

Regional

Iron Belle Trail - 1st Avenue Bridge

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Iron Belle Trail - 1st Avenue Bridge

This unusual hybrid pony truss and through girder bridge carries the former Soo Line Bessemer Branch over 1st Avenue in Bessemer

Bessemer, Gogebic County, Michigan

Owner: Gogebic County

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1896

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
105' double intersection Warren pony truss and timber pile trestle

Description:
Double intersection Warren pony truss bridge over 1st Avenue

Significance:

High

Iron Belle Trail - Montreal River Bridge

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Iron Belle Trail - Montreal River Bridge

This deck plate girder bridge carries the former Soo Line Bessemer Branch over the Montreal River between Hurley and Ironwood

Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan to Hurley, Iron County, Wisconsin

Owner: Iron County (WI)/Gogebic County (MI)

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1898

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Wisconsin Central Railway

Design:
70' deck plate girder and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Montreal River

Significance:

Local