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TC&W Buffalo Creek Bridge (Hector)

Secondhand Deck Plate Girder Bridge Over Buffalo Creek
Hector, Renville County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name TC&W Buffalo Creek Bridge #1
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Twin Cities & Western Railroad
Length 102 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Erected Ca. 1930
Date Fabricated Ca. 1890
Original Location Unknown
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number O-202
Significance Local Significance


This small deck girder bridge was a temporary fix for a failed concrete box culvert.
Located just east of Hector, this deck girder span was likely relocated from another location to replace a box culvert. This culvert likely dated to the early 1900s.
It is unknown when the stream carved another channel. However, it appears in 1938 aerial imagery that this bridge was here.
Currently, the bridge consists of the main deck girder span. This girder has features indicating an early 1890s girder. In addition, the bridge is approached by a single trestle span on either side. The entire bridge is set onto timber substructures.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. Since the bridge was a temporary fix, the materials are not of the highest quality. As a result, minor deterioration can be found on the timber components of this bridge.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated based on similar bridges
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele