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Marsh Lake Railroad Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Minnesota River
Near Appleton, Swift County, Minnesota
To
Rural Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Marsh Lake Railroad Bridge
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 360 Feet Total, 70 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder, Deck Plate Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Built 1916
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 25.8
Significance Local Significance

This bridge is located about a third of a mile downstream from the Marsh Lake Dam.
Built in 1916 to cross the Minnesota River, the bridge was heavily upgraded in 1957, including the addition of new approach spans.
Currently, the bridge consists of a single through girder main span, a deck girder on either side, and several spans of trestle approach. The whole bridge rests on timber pile substructures.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. However, a closer inspection would be needed to provide more than an estimate of the condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Minnesota River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Ortonville Rail Bridge
Downstream (North Channel) Granite Falls Rail Bridge (North)
Downstream (South Channel) Granite Falls Rail Bridge (South)

Citations

Source Type

Source
Build Date Great Northern Railroad Bridge Records at the Minnesota Historical Society
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele


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