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| Name | Mickelson Trail - Whitewood Creek Bridge Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #106.41 |
| Built By | Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | State of South Dakota |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Length | 57 Feet Total |
| Width | 2 Tracks |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1910 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail) |
| Current Status | Open to Trail Traffic |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number | 106.41 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 7/16/2017 |
In 1889, the Deadwood Central Railroad (DC) began construction on a new railroad line, extending from Englewood, South Dakota to Deadwood, South Dakota. The DC sold the partially completed railroad to the Grand Island and Wyoming Central Railroad (GI&WC) in 1890. The GI&WC completed construction on the route, and also constructed an additional 98 miles between Edgemont, South Dakota and Englewood. The entire line from Edgemont to Englewood was completed in 1891. In 1897, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) purchased the GI&WC. This route served as a branch line for the CB&Q, serving various mining industries around Deadwood. The CB&Q merged with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway in 1970 to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). BN continued to operate this route until 1987, when the line was abandoned. The BN continued to operate a short spur of the old line at Edgemont. In 1996, BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. In 2024, BNSF continues to operate the short segment near Edgemont. The remainder of the line has been converted to the George S. Mickelson Trail, a popular recreation trail in the Black Hills.
Located in Deadwood, this through plate girder bridge carries the Mickelson Trail across Whitewood Creek. Built in 1910 to replace an older timber bridge, the bridge consists of a single 57-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The girder utilizes flared ends, typical of CB&Q bridges. In addition, the bridge was built for two tracks, and runs at a heavy skew. This design of bridge 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 to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |