UP Shanaska Creek Bridge

Kasota, Le Sueur County, Minnesota

Default pic
Overview
Damage to wall
Overview
Repaired north wall
Southeast wing wall
Ceiling
Damage to wall
Southwest wing wall
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
Damage to wall
Overview
Repaired north wall
Southeast wing wall
Ceiling
Damage to wall
Southwest wing wall
Overview
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Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
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
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 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 near Kasota, this large stone arch bridge crosses Shanaska Creek. Built in 1896, the bridge features a single 20-foot stone arch span of standard design. This style of bridge was commonly used by the Omaha Road, and railroads across the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. It is likely that this bridge replaced a wooden trestle. Overall, the bridge was in fair to poor condition at the time of visit. The south wall had recently been repaired with a concrete lining at the bottom, but the north wall was failing, with significant stone loss. 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