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| Name | Alborn-Pengilly Trail - St. Louis River Bridge Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Bridge #A14A |
| Built By | Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Substructure Contractor | W.F. King of Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Length | 290 Feet Total, 105 Foot Largest Spans |
| Width | 2 Tracks, 1 In Use |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1906 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail) |
| Current Status | Open to Trail Traffic |
| Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway Bridge Number | A14A |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/23/2015 |
In 1905, the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Railroad Company (DM&N)
began construction on a 53 mile double track railroad line extending from Alborn to Coleraine,
Minnesota. The route would be completed in 1906. The DM&N was owned by US Steel, which operated the railroad to provide iron ore from Minnesota to the ports at Duluth. This route was constructed solely to provide a connection between iron deposits near Coleraine and the ports at Duluth. The DM&N merged with the Duluth &
Iron Range Railroad
to form the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway (DM&IR) in
1938. As traffic dwindled after World War II, the route would be downgraded, and eventually abandoned in 1977. The line sat unused until 1996, when it was purchased by an ATV club, which converted it to the Alborn-Pengilly Trail.
Located near the ghost town of Elmer, this deck plate girder bridge carries the Alborn-Pengilly Trail across the St. Louis River. Constructed in 1906, the bridge consists of three spans of deck plate girder, set onto concrete substructures. W.F. King of Indianapolis completed the substructures of the bridge. The bridge runs at a heavy skew, and the easternmost span is shorter on one side than the other. The bridge also utilizes a steel deck, typical of bridges in the iron range. Since the initial construction, the deck has been removed on the eastern two spans of the southern track. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted within the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build Date | Date Stamp |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |