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| Name | BNSF Vermillion River Bridge Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #T-326 |
| Built By | Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Length | 257 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | c. 1965 using spans fabricated 1914 |
| Original Location | Unknown |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge Number | T-326 |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 550.0 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 5/5/2017 |
In 1872, the Dakota Southern Railroad (DS) began construction on a new railroad line, 61 miles in length, extending from Sioux City, Iowa to Yankton, South Dakota. The route would be completed in 1873. In 1879, the railroad was consolidated with the Sioux City and Pembina Railway to form the Sioux City and Dakota Railroad. In 1881, the railroad would be merged into the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, known as the Milwaukee Road. The Milwaukee Road had constructed a significant network of lines throughout the Midwest, and was looking to expand the network. In 1881, a line was constructed from Aberdeen, South Dakota extending north to Edgeley, North Dakota. The same year, construction began on an extension to Aberdeen, which would be completed in 1886. A majority of the extension was completed in 1882 and 1883. This extension provided a key connection to the existing Milwaukee Road mainline from Aberdeen to 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 the Sioux City to Edgeley segment. The State of South Dakota purchased the railroad line, and Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) was selected to operate the route. The Aberdeen to Edgeley segment would be abandoned in 1984. BN merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996 to form BNSF. In 2005, the State of South Dakota sold the railroad line to BNSF. BNSF continues to operate the line as the Aberdeen Subdivision.
Located on the west side of Vermillion, this through plate girder bridge crosses the Vermillion River. The previous bridge at this location was a timber pile trestle. In approximately 1965, that bridge would be replaced by a pair of secondhand 60-foot type "C-4" through plate girder spans, set onto timber piers. The girder spans were originally fabricated in 1914 by the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company. It is unknown where these girders may have been moved from, although they may have come from Bridge #B-378; the eastern pontoon bridge across the Mississippi River between Marquette, Iowa and Prairie du Chein, Wisconsin. That bridge contained two 60-foot C-4 through girder spans, built in 1914, and was removed in 1961. Research into the history of these spans is ongoing. Railroads often reused steel spans as a way to save costs on bridges. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The girder spans appear to have been strengthened when they were moved to this location. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |