CNW Street Bridge

CNW Street Bridge

CNW Street Bridge
Waseca Minnesota

Name	CNW Street Bridge
Built By	Chicago Northwestern Railroad
Currently Owned By	Dakota Minnesota Eastern Railroad
Length	17.5 Feet
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	6.5 Feet
Type	I Beam
Date Built	1908
Traffic Count	7 Trains a Day Estimated
Current Status	In Use

In 1862, the Winona & St. Peter Railroad built west from Winona. They continued building west until 1867, when Chicago Northwestern Purchased them. CNW continued building well into South Dakota. Parts of the line were rebuilt in the early 1900’s. This line wasn’t easy to maintain, due to its length and the amount of bridges and culverts. So of course CNW wasn’t so hip on this line, so they filed to abandon it. U.S. Senator Larry Pressler, South Dakota, opposed the abandonment and won the case before the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1985. Later in 1985, Senator Pressler made a deal with CNW leading to the creation of Dakota Minnesota Eastern as an alternative to abandonment. DM&E fixed up the line, and began operating from Winona to South Dakota. DM&E eventually began buying up new lines in Wyoming, and other lines around Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. By 1986, they had well over 800 miles of tracks under their belt. At some point, track was abandoned a little ways west of Winona. Then in September 2007, DM&E was purchased by Canadian Pacific. They continue to operate as a subsidiary to CP. As result, the name is still under DM&E. Around 2008, DM&E upgraded all their rail to 115 LB Rail.

This bridge is at the west end of the Waseca Yard. When me and my dad first saw this bridge, He wasn't sure if we were going to be able to get under, but we did. Some of the taller people in this world can't fit under this bridge. This bridge definatly wasn't built as a road underpass, but as a runoff bridge.

Fact #1:
This bridge has 6 beams instead of 4

Fact 2:
This bridge has had advanced corrosion eat through much of the bracing.

Fact 3:
This bridge is so small that I used a tape measure to measure the length and height of this bridge.

The photo above is looking at the south side of the bridge.

The photo above is looking at the south end. The photo below is looking at the build plate.

The photo above is looking at the south end. The photo below is looking at the main span.

The photo above is looking at the bridge at an angle on the south end. The photo below is looking east towards the yard across the bridge.

The photo above is looking under the bridge. Note the 2 rows of girders directly under the rails. The photo below is looking at the west abutment.

The photo above is the east abutment. The photo below is looking at the north side from US 14.

The photo above is looking at an angle at the north side. The photo below is looking along the north side of the bridge.

The photo above is the proudly attatched DM&E logo to the bridge. The photo below is looking at the west abutment.

The photo above is looking at some advanced corrosion that is eating away at the bracing.

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