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| Name | Sandstone Railroad Bridge Great Northern Railway Bridge #62.4 |
| Built By | Great Northern Railway |
| Currently Owned By | BNSF Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Edge Moor Bridge Works of Wilmington, Delaware (Truss) Unknown (Girders) |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 764 Feet Total, 160 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 134 Feet |
| Superstructure Design | Pratt Deck Truss and Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Steel Tower, Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1893 (Truss) 1903 (Girders) 1912 (East Tower Girder) c. 1990 (Spans #5 and #6) |
| Date Strengthened | 1924 (Truss) 1948 (Truss and Girders) |
| Traffic Count | 6 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Great Northern Railway Bridge Number | 62.4 |
| BNSF Railway Bridge Number | 62.4 |
| Significance | High Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/11/2014 |
In 1888, the Eastern Railway Company of Minnesota (ERM) would construct a 70-mile railroad between Hinckley, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. In 1899, the ERM would construct a 65-mile connection between Coon Creek (Fridley), Minnesota and Hinckley. This railroad served as a primary connection between the Twin Cities and the Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior. In 1902, the Great Northern Railway would lease the ERM for a period of 99 years. In 1907, the ERM would be purchased by the Great Northern Railway, which owned a significant amount of railroad lines in Minnesota and other states. This route served as the primary GN mainline between the Twin Cities and the Twin Ports. The line was critical for hauling iron ore, timber and agricultural commodities. In 1970, GN merged with rival Northern Pacific Railway and Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad to form Burlington Northern Railroad.
BN was in turn merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in
1996, to form BNSF Railway. BNSF currently operates this line as the Hinckley subdivision.
Located on the northeast side of Sandstone, this large truss and girder viaduct carries the BNSF Hinckley Subdivision high above the Kettle River. The first bridge here was constructed in 1888, and consisted of a large wooden trestle and wooden truss. In 1893, the center span of the bridge was replaced by a new 160-foot 6-panel pin connected Pratt deck truss, set onto steel towers and approached by timber trestle. In 1903, deck plate girder spans were installed on steel towers to replace the original trestle approaches. The bridge would rest on steel towers, stone piers and concrete footings and abutments.
Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen numerous alterations and upgrades. The east tower girder was replaced in 1912, and the deck truss was strengthened with a third truss line in 1924. The girder spans were strengthened with a third girder line in 1948. In approximately 1990, the deck of the bridge was replaced with a new concrete ballast deck, and the two spans west of the deck truss replaced by modern welded spans. This style of bridge is relatively uncommon along railroads throughout the United States, due to the expensive nature and difficult construction associated with constructing a steel viaduct. In Minnesota, relatively few of these types of bridges exist. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted in the structure. The author has ranked the bridge as being highly significant, due to the unique and relatively uncommon design.
Citations
| Build Date | Great Northern Mesabi Division Bridge Index, located at the Minnesota Historical Society |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |