UP Spring Creek Bridge (Madelia)

Madelia, Watonwan County, Minnesota

Default pic
Overview
North approach
Pier
North approach
Girder span
Under girder
North approach
Plaque
South abutment
North approach
North abutment
Looking south
Looking north

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Default Pic
Overview
North approach
Pier
North approach
Girder span
Under girder
North approach
Plaque
South abutment
North approach
North abutment
Looking south
Looking north
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Name UP Spring Creek Bridge (Madelia)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #521
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company (Lassig Branch of Chicago)
Unknown
Length 86 Feet
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder and Timber Pile Trestle
Substructure Design Stone Masonry, Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1901, North Approach Added c. 1970
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 521
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 111.59
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 1/26/2013
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. James to Le Mars segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located west of Madelia, this deck plate girder bridge crosses Spring Creek. Originally built in 1901 to replace a trestle, the bridge consisted of a single 40-foot deck plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The 40-foot size was used at numerous locations along this route, as it was a standard design. In approximately 1970, the original north abutment was damaged, and a timber pile pier and timber trestle approach were added to the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted throughout the bridge. 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