UP Okabena Creek Bridge

Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota

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North abutment
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Name UP Okabena Creek Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #672
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 60 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design Concrete
Date Built c. 1910
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 672
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 174.75
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 1/1/2016
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. James to Le Mars segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located just north of Worthington, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway over Okabena Creek alongside Minnesota Highway 60. Built in approximately 1910 to replace a timber pile trestle, the bridge features a standard 60-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. Typical of many C&NW girders, this span features tapered and rounded ends. An unknown contractor fabricated the girder, and an unknown contractor constructed the abutments. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads, due to its durability and ease of construction. Overall, this bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with some deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele