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UP Bridge #132.42

Steel Stringer Bridge over Unnamed Drainage Creek
Butterfield, Watonwan County, Minnesota

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Name UP Bridge #132.42
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company (Lassig Branch)
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 20 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1901
Traffic Count 12 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CNW Bridge Number 550
UP Bridge Number 132.42
Significance Local Significance


Located west of Butterfield, this small steel stringer bridge crosses a small drainage creek.
Built in 1901 to replace a wooden bridge, the bridge features a single steel stringer span, set onto stone abutments. The beam arrangement includes two sets of two beams, for four total beams.
Small steel stringer spans were commonly used to cross livestock crossings, small creeks and other small obstacles. The missing plaque appears to have a Lassig Bridge & Iron Works outline, although it is not identical to a typical outline of this type of plaque.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good to fair condition. The structural steel shows little sign of deterioration.

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 Chicago & North Western Bridge Notes at the National Archives; College Park, Maryland
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele