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| Name | Dakota Rail Trail - Crow River Bridge Great Northern Railway Bridge #46.4 |
| Built By | Great Northern Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Carver County Regional Rail Authority |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 179 Feet Total, 61 Foot Largest Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 25 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Type | Deck Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Type | Timber Pile |
| Date Built | 1940, Using Spans Fabricated c. 1900 |
| Original Location(s) | Unknown |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Great Northern Railway Bridge Number | 46.4 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 9/2/2012; 2/16/2013 |
In 1881, the Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company (StPM&M) constructed a 6 mile railroad spur, extending from Wayzata, Minnesota to Spring Park, Minnesota. During the 1880s, the StPM&M was building, acquiring and funding significant railroad construction throughout Minnesota. In 1887, the Minneapolis, Lyndale and Minnetonka Railway Company (WM&SP) constructed a new 55 mile railroad extending from Hutchinson Junction, Minnesota to Hutchinson, Minnesota. At Hutchinson Junction, the line branched off the StPM&M main line, heading west through Hopkins and Excelsior. The company was purchased by the StPM&M soon after completion. The StPM&M was controlled by railroad magnate James J. Hill, who sought to build a railroad network to the West Coast. By 1901, the StPM&M built an 8 mile connection between St. Bonifacius and Spring Park, abandoning the old route between St. Bonifacius and Hopkins.
The StPM&M would be purchased by Great Northern Railway (GN) in 1907. The GN was another Hill controlled railroad, and the purchase created a vast railroad network extending from the Twin Cities to the West Coast. This route was never operated as more than a spur route, serving various industries in rural Hennepin, Carver and McLeod Counties. The segment between Hutchinson Junction and Hopkins was abandoned in In 1970, GN merged with rival Northern Pacific Railway and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). BN leased operations of this line to Dakota Rail in 1985, and Dakota Rail was purchased by RailAmerica in 1995. In 2001, RailAmerica abandoned the route, selling the right-of-way to the three counties. The Dakota Rail Trail has been developed over the railroad between Lester Prairie and Wayzata, and the North Cedar Lake Trail utilizes portions of the former railroad between Hopkins and Hutchinson Junction. The remaining segment between Lester Prairie and Hutchinson has yet to be developed into the Dakota Rail Trail.
Located alongside County Road 30 west of Mayer, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Great Northern Railway over the Crow River. The first bridges at this location consisted of standard timber pile trestle bridges, set onto timber bents. In 1940, the bridge would be replaced by the current steel and timber bridge. The bridge consists of a 60-foot, 9-inch and two 30-foot, 9-inch deck plate girder spans, approached by timber pile trestle spans on either end. The entire bridge is set onto timber pile substructures. During the 20th Century, the Great Northern regularly replaced bridges located along various mainlines with heavier spans. In turn, the replaced spans were often reused along branch lines throughout the system. It appears that the girder spans at this location were reused from unknown location(s), and were originally fabricated in approximately 1900. It is unknown if the spans were modified upon relocation here, but it does appear they were painted a standard coat of silver paint. Railroads often reused steel spans, as it provided a cost effective way to upgrade bridges without requiring large amounts of new material. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used for railroad bridges, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen few structural changes. After the abandonment of the railroad, the bridge sat abandoned for many years. In 2012, the bridge was reused as part of the Dakota Rail Trail, and a wooden deck and decorative railing was installed. Overall, the bridge appears to be well maintained and in good condition. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design and unknown history.
Citations
| Build date | Great Northern Willmar Division Bridge Index, located at the Minnesota Historical Society |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |