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Medford Rail Bridge

Warren Pony Truss Bridge over Straight River
Medford, Steele County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Medford Rail Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian Pacific Railway
Length 140 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Warren Pony Truss
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1929
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Closed)
Current Status Closed to Traffic
MILW Bridge Number S-274
Significance Local Significance


This large pony truss bridge is the sole crossing of the Straight River on this route, a difference from nine structures on a parallel route.
Built in 1929, this large scale bridge replaced a structure of lighter composure. It is likely that this span was relocated to another location.
Currently, the bridge consists of a large 8-panel, riveted Warren Pony Truss. The bridge rests on concrete substructures
This design is common along former Milwaukee Road secondary mainlines. The massive spans were oftentimes built in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the newer design.
The photo above is an overview. It can be accessed from a parallel county road.

Straight River Railroad Bridges
Upstream UP Straight River Bridge #6
Downstream UP Straight River Bridge #5

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Central Library
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele