BNSF Trout Brook Sewer Culvert

Name	BNSF Trout Brook Sewer Culvert Great Northern Railway Bridge #0.59
Built By	St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Northern Pacific Railway
Currently Owned By	BNSF Railway
Length	10 Feet Total
Width	8 Tracks (3 In Use)
Height Above Ground	5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Stone Arch Culvert
Substructure Design	Stone Masonry
Date Built	1882 and 1888
Traffic Count	60 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	Open to Traffic
Great Northern Railway Bridge Number	0.59
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	12/10/2011; 8/26/2015

In 1862, the First Division of The St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company constructed the first railroad in Minnesota, a 10 mile route between St. Paul, Minnesota and Minneapolis (St. Anthony), Minnesota. The railroad quickly spurred growth throughout the Twin Cities, and was extended north and west during the following years. In 1879, the railroad was purchased by the James J. Hill controlled St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway (StPM&M). This route became one of the heaviest used routes on the StPM&M system. By 1907, the StPM&M would be purchased by another James J. Hill railroad, the Great Northern Railway (GN). Great Northern connected to Seattle and Portland on the West Coast, and to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) in St. Paul. In 1970, GN merged with rival Northern Pacific Railway and the CB&Q to form Burlington Northern Railroad. BN was in turn merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996, to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently operates this line as the Midway Subdivision, the southern of two parallel BNSF main lines through the Twin Cities.

Located along 4th Street in St. Paul, this small stone arch culvert was built as part of an early storm sewer project along Trout Brook in St. Paul. Originally built in 1882, the culvert would be widened in 1888. The western face was constructed by Great Northern in 1882, and the eastern face by Northern Pacific in 1888. The culvert is built into the stone abutments of the adjacent Northern Pacific and Great Northern bridges. This style of culvert was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with minor deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Build Date	Great Northern Railway Historical Society Online Archives
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

BNSF Trout Brook Sewer Culvert

St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota