BNSF Heart River Bridge (East)

Mandan, Morton County, North Dakota

Default pic
Overview
Portal bracing
East pier
East approach
Upper angle connection
Upper connection
Lower connection
West pier
West approach
West abutment
East abutment
Sway bracing
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
Portal bracing
East pier
East approach
Upper angle connection
Upper connection
Lower connection
West pier
West approach
West abutment
East abutment
Sway bracing
Overview
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Caption:
Name BNSF Heart River Bridge (East)
Northern Pacific Railway Bridge #0
Built By Northern Pacific Railway
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 290 Feet Total, 200 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 25 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Warren Through Truss and Steel Stringer
Substructure Design Concrete
Date Built 1960
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Railway Bridge Number 0.8
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 5/13/2017

In 1871, the Northern Pacific Railroad (NP) continued on the mainline which was previously constructed from Carlton, Minnesota to Dilworth, Minnesota.  Construction would reach Moorhead by the end of 1871, and the line would be extended across the Red River and to Jamestown, North Dakota in 1872.  The line would reach Bismarck by the end of 1873.  A ferry across the Missouri River to Mandan would be opened in 1879, and construction would be completed to Medora, North Dakota in 1880.  Construction would reach Glendive, Montana by the end of 1881, and a permamnat bridge across the Missouri River would be constructed in 1882.  The NP would be sold to the Northern Pacific Railway in 1896.

The NP operated this route as their principle mainline, connecting the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to the Pacific Coast at Seattle.  Numerous upgrades would be made to the route in the late 1890s, including various realignments between Mandan and Glendive.  A new high bridge and bypass of Valley City, North Dakota would be completed in 1909.  Later upgrades came in the 1940s, when additional realignments occurred between Mandan and Glendive, including a significant line change near New Salem, North Dakota.  In 1970, NP would merge with rival Great Northern Railway and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). In 1996, BN merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently operates the Dilworth to Bismarck segment of this line as the Jamestown Subdivision; and the Mandan to Glendive segment of this line as the Dickinson Subdivision.

Located on the west side of Mandan, this through truss bridge is the first crossing of the Heart River along the former NP Yellowstone Division mainline. The previous bridge at this location was a 200' through truss, constructed in 1898. During the 1950s, several floods caused damage to Mandan. As a result, much of the Heart River in Mandan was channelized, and the bridge reconstructed. In 1960, a 200' riveted 8-panel Warren through truss bridge was constructed to replace the old bridge. This new bridge utilized a 45-foot steel stringer span on either end, and would be set onto concrete substructures. The old bridge was reused on the south side of Mandan. This design of bridge was most often constructed in the early 20th Century, but is occasionally still constructed for large spans. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the truss design and newer age.

Citations

Build Date Yellowstone Division Bridge Book at the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association Archives
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele