UP Bridge #35.21

Merriam Junction, Scott County, Minnesota

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Looking north
Overview
South abutment
North abutment
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North abutment

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Looking north
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South abutment
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North abutment
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Name UP Bridge #35.21
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #174
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 14 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 3 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1900
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 174
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 35.21
Significance Minimal Significance
Documentation Date 7/3/2017
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. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located south of Merriam Junction, this small steel stringer bridge crosses a small drainage ditch. Built in 1899, the bridge features a single 14-foot 4-ply steel stringer span, set onto stone abutments. The bridge is mostly silted in. These types of spans were exceedingly common along railroads throughout the United States, due to the ease of construction, durability and relatively low cost. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being minimally significant, due to the common design and small size.

Citations

Build Date Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Information at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele