CPKC Crooked Creek Bridge

Reno, Houston County, Minnesota

Default pic
Overview
Looking north
North approach
West span
South pier
North approach
Overview
North approach
South abutment
Looking north
Looking north
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
Looking north
North approach
West span
South pier
North approach
Overview
North approach
South abutment
Looking north
Looking north
Overview
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Caption:
Name CPKC Crooked Creek Bridge
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #K-616
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Currently Owned By Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 180 Feet Total, 60 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Through plate girder and steel stringer
Substructure Design Concrete
Date Built 2008 using a c. 1910 span
Original Location (Through Girder) Unknown
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge Number K-616
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 12/28/2014

In 1871, the Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota Railway (CD&M) began construction of the line from River Junction, Minnesota to Dubuque, Iowa.  At the same time, the Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque Railroad (CC&D) built from Dubuque to Sabula Junction.  The CC&D portion of the route was sold to Clinton and Dubuque Railroad (C&D) in 1877.  Both the CD&M and C&D became part of the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minnesota Railroad (CCD&M) in 1878.  By 1880, the CCD&M was deeded to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road).  This route served as a principal line for the Milwaukee Road, connecting several mainlines.

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.  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 1997, CP sold this line to I&M Rail Link, which later sold it to Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E), a subsidiary of Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E).  In 2008, DM&E and IC&E were purchased by CP.  CP merged with Kansas City  Southern Railway in 2023 to form CPKC, the current owners of this route.  The CPKC operates this route as the Marquette Subdivision, and it is anticipated to see a heavy increase in traffic over the coming years.

Located just south of Reno, this through girder and steel stringer bridge crosses Crooked Creek. Built in 2008 to replace the previous c. 1898 three span through girder bridge destroyed in a derailment, the bridge features a single 60-foot through girder span, relocated from another location. It appears that the girder follows a standard design, and is likely a former Milwaukee Road span. It is currently unknown where the the span came from. The northern two spans of the bridge are a modern steel stringer design, and the bridge rests on concrete substructures. When the bridge was rebuilt after the derailment, the substructures were also rebuilt as necessary.

The IC&E and DM&E replaced numerous bridges throughout the 1990s and 2000s as they upgraded the former Milwaukee Road routes through Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. It is likely that the through girder span was saved from one of those replacement projects. There are numerous instances of spans from other spans being reused by these two railroads, particularly in emergency situations. Research into where this span came from is ongoing. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with little deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Build Date Date derailment destroyed previous bridge
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele