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| Name | S. Branch Root River Trail Bridge #1 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Q-212 |
| Built By | Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| Superstructure Contractor | Edge Moor Bridge Works of Wilmington, Delaware |
| Length | 140 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 27 Feet |
| Superstructure Design | Pratt through truss |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1882, relocated here 1906 |
| Original Location | Bridge #Z-312; Rock River Bridge; Byron, Illinois |
| Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge Number | Q-212 |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/28/2014; 7/21/2015 |
In 1872, the Southern Minnesota Railroad constructed 165 miles of new track in Southern Minnesota from La Crescent, Minnesota to Winnebago, Minnesota. The railroad was sold and reorganized in 1877 as the Southern Minnesota Railway. In 1878, the line would be extended an additional 138 miles to Flandreau, South Dakota by the The Southern Minnesota Railway Extension, which was controlled by the Southern Minnesota Railway beginning in 1880. In 1880, the Southern Minnesota Railway conveyed it's property to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. Known as the Milwaukee Road, the railroad was beginning to amass a large collection of railroads throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The line would later be extended to Wessington Springs, South Dakota.
The Milwaukee Road operated this route as a secondary route, connecting cities and other lines in Southern Minnesota and South Dakota. The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. As the Milwaukee Road continued to face financial turmoil, branch lines began to see deteriorated conditions. By 1980, the Milwaukee Road was looking to reduce its trackage, and it abandoned this line between Ramsey and La Crescent, as well as Jackson and Flandreau. Portions of the line between Ramsey and La Crescent were purchased for trail use, and the portion of the line from Fountain to Houston was reused as the Root River State Trail. By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986. In 2023, CP merged with Kansas City Southern Railway to form CPKC, the current operator of the Ramsey to Jackson segment of this line.
Located near the Old Barn Resort west of Lanesboro, this through truss bridge is the first crossing of the South Branch Root River. The first bridge here was likely a wooden truss bridge. In 1906, it was decided to replace the bridge with an iron span, originally fabricated in 1882 as part of a five span skew bridge across the Rock River at Byron, Illinois. When the span was relocated here, it was shortened from the original 158-feet long to the current 140-foot span. The portals were also likely rebuilt, although it is unknown where this material may have come from. The bridge currently features an 8-panel, pin connected Pratt through truss, set onto concrete substructures.
Two other spans from the 1882 Byron bridge are known to exist. One span crosses the Red Cedar River at Downsville, Wisconsin while the other crosses the [LINK]Volga River near Fayette, Iowa. In addition, another span was known to have been used at Good Thunder, Minnesota; although that span was replaced in 1929. Reusing spans was a common technique for railroads looking to save money. Oftentimes, spans that were too light for mainline traffic could be suitable for branch line traffic, oftentimes with alterations and strengthening. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. It is hoped that the Minnesota DNR will continue to maintain and preserve this bridge for years to come. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the age and relocation history.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Milwaukee Road Archives Drawing Collection at the Milwaukee Public Library |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |