BNSF Bridge #95.51

In 1871, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska (BMRN) began construction on 87 miles of new railroad, extending from Lincoln, Nebraska to Harvard, Nebraska.  This line was a planned mainline, extending from Chicago to Denver.  The following year, the line would be completed an additional 25 miles to Kenesaw, Nebraska.  In 1880, the BMRN constructed a 42 mile segment from Oxford, Nebraska to Indianola, Nebraska, followed by a 110 mile segment to Wray, Nebraska in 1881. The line was completed west to Denver in 1882.  In 1883, the line would be extended an additional 40 miles to Holdredge, Nebraska, followed by another 25 miles to Oxford in 1884, connecting the two lines, and completing the mainline from Chicago to Denver.  Since 1880, the BMRN had been controlled by stock by the same interests that controlled the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q).  The BMRN was formally sold to the CB&Q in 1908.  The CB&Q and associated ownership came in control or constructed a large number of lines throughout Iowa and Nebraska, and this route would come to serve as one of the most significant routes owned by the CB&Q.  Significant upgrades and realignments were made at various points, including a new 4 mile cutoff between Cushman and Cobb to connect the two CB&Q mainlines at Lincoln, completed in 1910.  Further work was done throughout in the 1930s and 1950s.  CB&Q merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).  BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1996  to form BNSF Railway.  BNSF continues to operate the Lincoln-McCook segment as the Hastings Subdivision.