UP Spring Creek Bridge (Madelia)

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)
Substructure Contractor	Unknown
Length	86 Feet Total, 40 Foot Main Span
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 (MVR) began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. In 1865, the first 22 miles were completed between Mendota, Minnesota and Merriam Junction, Minnesota; followed by 17 additional miles to Belle Plaine, Minnesota in 1866. In 1867, the MVR completed an additional 16 miles to Le Sueur, Minnesota; followed by 12 additional miles to Kasota, Minnesota in 1868. In 1869, the MVR completed an additional 22 miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota. The same year, an additional 5 miles would be completed between St. Paul, Minnesota and Mendota. In 1870, the MVR would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James, Minnesota 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, Iowa.

In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road). The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. The C&NW had developed a large network of railroad lines in the Midwest, with the Omaha Road serving as the northern extent of the company. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. Several improvements were made to the line in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Between 1898 and 1906, several sections of the line were realigned between Blakeley, Minnesota and Mankato. In 1957, the C&NW leased the Omaha Road, and the C&NW purchased the company in 1972. The C&NW was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1995. UP still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision and the St. James to Sioux City segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line remains a mainline for UP, connecting St. Paul to Sioux City and providing UP with a mainline into the Twin Cities.

Located southwest of Madelia, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) mainline over Spring Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. In 1901, the bridge was replaced by a new steel deck girder span, set onto stone abutments. In the early 20th Century, the bridge was raised several feet, likely as part of a grade improvement. The most recent alteration to the bridge came in approximately 1970, when the north abutment failed and a timber pile trestle approach was installed on the north end. Currently, the bridge consists of a 40-foot deck plate girder span, set onto a stone and concrete south abutment and a timber pile north pier. The north approach consists of four timber pile trestle spans. The superstructure follows a standard design, with two medium sized girders. The south abutment uses a combination of designs, reflecting its history of being rebuilt. Stone for the abutment appears to be a tan limestone, likely quarried at Mankato, Minnesota. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure at the Lassig Plant, while the substructure was constructed by unknown contractors. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with some minor defects noted throughout the bridge. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Build date and builder (superstructure)	American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

UP Spring Creek Bridge (Madelia)

Madelia, Watonwan County, Minnesota