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| Name | NSSR Lester River Bridge Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Bridge #7A |
| Built By | Duluth & Iron Range Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | St. Louis County Regional Railroad Authority |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago (Approaches) American Bridge Company of New York (Main Span) |
| Length | 151 Feet Total, 100 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 50 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Steel Bent |
| Date Built | 1896, Main Span Replaced 1944 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Bridge Number | 7A |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/11/2014 |
In 1886, the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad (D&IR) constructed a 24-mile new railroad along the shore of Lake Superior between Duluth, Minnesota and Two Harbors, Minnesota. At Duluth, the route connected to a large port. At Two Harbors, the line connected to a network of railroad lines previously built to serve the iron mines near Ely. In 1887, the railroad was acquired by Illinois Steel Company, which in turn became part of US Steel in 1901. The railroad primarily served as a connection for iron ore to reach the Duluth port. In 1938, D&IR merged with Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railroad to form Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway (DM&IR). The line was sold to the St. Louis County Regional Railroad Authority in 1986. US Steel continued to control the DM&IR until 1988, when the
railroad holdings of that company were sold to Blackstone Group. The holdings were in turn sold to Canadian National Railway in 2003. Today, North Shore Scenic Railroad operates excursion trains over the route, while CN has trackage rights, but rarely utilizes them.
Located on the east side of Duluth, this large deck plate girder bridge crosses high above the Lester River. Originally built in 1896, the bridge originally consisted of a 100-foot lattice deck truss span, approached by a 30-foot and 21-foot deck plate girder. In 1944, the bridge was rebuilt to meet the need for heavier loads, and the center span of the bridge was replaced by a deck plate girder. The piers of the bridge consist of steel bents, while the substructures are constructed of stone. This style of bridge was commonly used throughout this area, due to the rugged terrain and large water bodies that needed to be crossed. At this location, the Lester River is deep in a canyon, and large exposed stone cliffs extend on either side of the river. The bridge appears to rest directly on the bedrock. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Builders Plaques |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |