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BNSF Bridge #137.4

Deck Girder Bridge over Unnamed Creek
Brandon, Minnehaha County, South Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Bridge #137.4
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 132 Feet Total, 32 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Built 1947
Traffic Count 8 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 137.4
Significance Locally Significance


This simply constructed Deck Girder bridge crosses a small drainage ditch on the west side of Brandon. It is alongside Redwood Boulevard.
The bridge contains three deck girder spans, approached by trestle on either side. It rests on wooden substructures. This may indicate that the bridge was a temporary fix to a derailment or other bridge collapse.
Typically if a temporary repair, these may have been older spans relocated to this location.
This type of bridge has been a prime target for replacement in past years, due to the unfavorability of wooden substructures.

The author has ranked the bridge as locally significant because of the possible relocation history, as well as the common design and age.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be easily accessed from a parallel road.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Great Northern Railway AFE list
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele