DAIR Big Sioux River Bridge (Elk Point)

In 1878, the Sioux City and Pembina Railway (SC&P) began construction on a line extending from Elk Point, South Dakota to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Concurrently, the Southern Minnesota Railway (SM) began construction on a line extending from Egan, South Dakota to Sioux Falls.  In 1879, the SC&P merged with the Dakota Southern Railroad to form the Sioux City & Dakota Railroad (SC&D).  In 1880, the SM would be conveyed to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and in 1881 the SC&D would be acquired by the same company.  Work was quickly completed on the line.  Known as the Milwaukee Road, the railroad had constructed a significant network of lines throughout the Midwest, connecting several states with Chicago. 

The Milwaukee Road operated this route as a secondary route, connecting cities and other lines in South Dakota. The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. As the Milwaukee Road continued to face financial turmoil, branch lines began to see deteriorated conditions. In 1980, the Milwaukee Road sought to abandon significant trackage in South Dakota, including this line.  The Dell Rapids to Egan segment would be abandoned, while the Elk Point to Dell Rapids segment sold to the State of South Dakota.  The D&I Railroad was selected to operate the line.  The State of South Dakota sold the line to the D&I in 2021, and today, D&I continues to operate the line.