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| Name | UP Shanaska Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #382 |
| Built By | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 20 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track (104 Feet) |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1896 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 382 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 9/29/2013 |
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 near Kasota, this large stone arch bridge carries the former Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) mainline over Shanaska Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. In the late 19th Century, the Omaha Road invested significant capital into this line, replacing wooden bridges with stone and steel structures. In 1896, the original bridge was replaced by the present stone arch bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of a 20-foot stone arch, set onto stone substructures and constructed at a width of 104 feet. The bridge follows a standard design, with a semicircular arch, large headwalls and stepped wing walls extending diagonally from the bridge. Stone for the bridge consists of a yellow limestone, likely quarried nearby at Mankato, Minnesota. An unknown contractor constructed the bridge. Stone arches were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. The bridge has seen minor repairs in the 21st Century, including the encasement of the bottom of the south abutment with concrete. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with the base of the north abutment exposed. It is unknown if these issues have been corrected. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build Date | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Notes located at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |