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| Name | Abandoned S. Fork Groundhouse River Arch |
| Built By | St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Private Owner |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 40 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1892 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/18/2015 |
In 1882, the Minneapolis & St. Cloud Railroad (M&StC) constructed a 66 mile route between St. Cloud, Minnesota and Hinckley, Minnesota. The line would be extended to reach Superior by another railroad in 1888. In 1889, the M&StC would change its name to the Great Northern Railway (GN). GN would go on to operate a large number of lines in Minnesota. By 1899, a connection was built from Brook Park to Fridley, reducing the need for this line. GN continued to operate this route as a secondary route, until GN was merged with Northern Pacific Railway and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).
In 1983, BN abandoned a segment of track between St. Cloud and Mora, Minnesota. Much of the railroad grade was returned to adjacent landowners. In 1996, BN would merge with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. In an effort to sell branch lines, the segment between Brook Park and Mora would be sold to the St. Croix Valley Railroad (SCXY) in 1997, and later abandoned in 2003. This segment was railbanked for future trail use. In 2004, the remaining segment of track in the St. Cloud area would be sold to Northern Lines Railroad, which abandoned the spur in 2018.
Located along Minnesota Highway 23 between Bock and Ogilvie, this stone arch bridge crosses the S. Fork Groundhouse River. Built in 1892, the bridge features a large 40-foot stone arch span, with large wing walls. The cut stone for this bridge appears to have come from Sandstone, Minnesota; and the bridge appears to have replaced a wooden trestle. Stone arch bridges such as this were commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, due to the durability and ease of construction. This arch is a very large example of a stone arch, and may be the longest single-span stone arch bridge in the State of Minnesota. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the large scale size of a common design.
Citations
| Build Date | Great Northern Fergus Falls Division Bridge Index, located at the Minnesota Historical Society |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |