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| Name | RCP&E N. Fork Bad River Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1697 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 170 Feet Total, 84 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Double Intersection Warren Pony Truss and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Steel Caisson and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1927 using a span fabricated c. 1885 |
| Date Destroyed | January 27th, 2022 |
| Current Status | Destroyed by Derailment; Replaced by New Bridge |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 1697 |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 7/15/2017 |
In 1879, the Chicago and Dakota Railway (C&D) completed 46 miles
of new railroad from Tracy, Minnesota to Elkhorn, South Dakota. At
Tracy, the line connected to an existing railroad owned by the Winona
and Saint Peter Railway (W&StP), which was being leased by the
Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW). At the same time, the
Dakota Central Railway (DC) completed an additional 25 miles from
Elkhorn to Volga, South Dakota in 1879. In 1880, 184 additional miles
would be completed by DC to Pierre. The C&D would come under
control of the Chicago & North Western Railway in 1881, and the
C&D, DC and W&StP would all be merged into the C&NW in 1900.
In 1905, Native American land west of the Missouri River opened to
settlement and development. The C&NW immediately began working on a
new line to reach the Black Hills. In 1906, 76 miles would be
completed from Ft. Pierre to Philip by the Pierre, Rapid City and North
Western Railway (PRC&NW), with 44 additional miles were completed by
the same company between Rapid City and Wasta that year. In 1907, the
bridge across the Missouri River at Pierre and 3 miles of track would be
completed by the Pierre & Ft. Pierre Bridge Railway, and the
remaining 44 miles would be completed from Philip to Wasta by the
PRC&NW. The PRC&NW and Pierre & Ft. Pierre Bridge Railway
were both funded and controlled by the C&NW, and would later be
fully incorporated.
The C&NW operated the route between Winona and Rapid City as the
main line of the Dakota Division, eventually operating the passenger
train the "Dakota 400" over the route. As the line became less
profitable in the 1970s and 1980s, the C&NW was considering
abandoning the route. In 1986, the line between Winona and Rapid City
would be sold to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. The
DM&E would be purchased by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) in 2008.
In 2014, the DM&E entered into an agreement with the Genesee &
Wyoming owned Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad (RCP&E) to
sell 670 miles of track. Today, RCP&E operates the segment between
Pierre and Rapid City, South Dakota as the PRC Subdivision.
Once located on the west side of Philip, this pony truss bridge crossed the North Fork Bad River. The previous bridge at this location was likely a wooden truss bridge. In 1927, the bridge would be reconstructed, and an 84-foot riveted double intersection Warren pony truss span installed on new steel cylinder caisson piers. The bridge would be approached by timber trestle spans on either end. The truss span was originally fabricated in c. 1885 at an unknown location, prior to being relocated here. The truss utilized a standard design for the C&NW, with 84-foot pony trusses such as this being constructed extensively during the 1880s. Railroads often reused steel and iron spans, as it provided a cost effective way to upgrade branch line bridges without spending large amounts of money on new spans. There are numerous secondhand trusses on the Pierre-Rapid City route, many of which were placed between 1927 and 1930. Overall, the bridge appeared to be in fair condition at the time of documentation, with minor deterioration noted throughout the structure. The bridge was destroyed in a derailment on the evening of January 27th, 2022. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the lack of pony trusses in South Dakota, as well as the relocation history.
Citations
| Erection Date | Chicago & North Western AFE Index at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |