This Trackside Guide covers the 56 railroad crossings of the Mississippi River,
both currently in use or abandoned. Each entry has a brief history followed by links
to photographs and further information. Suggestions and corrections are welcome.
The Mississippi River starts at Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota. From there it
runs north and then east before turning south and draining into the Gulf of Mexico.
I have numbered the bridges from 1 to 56 following the river, and these numbers conflict with official bridge numbers. The current length of the Mississippi is 2,340
miles. Back in 1940 it was 2,555 miles, as navigation projects have been
straightening the river's course. I am not aware of any rail connection running east
and west which did not cross the river or the Canadian border.
Passenger service-
Amtrak currently uses eight of these bridges. The Ann Rutledge, Lincoln Service
and the Texas Eagle use St. Louis-MacArthur-50, and sometimes detour over Merchants-47. The Empire Builder crosses the river three times, using
Little Falls-14, Hastings-28 and La Crosse-32. The California Zephyr uses
Burlington-40, while the Southwest Chief crosses the river on Fort Madison-41.
New Orleans-56 hosts the tri-weekly Sunset Limited. Amtrak has used an additional five of these bridges since 1971, Minneapolis-19, Minneapolis-20, Dubuque-34, Quincy-43 and St. Louis-Eads-49. Quincy-43 is used by Amtrak, as empty trains lay over in West Quincy between runs.
Eads is still used to carry passengers, on the rapid transit St. Louis MetroLink, and Minneapolis-19 will soon be used for commuter trains.
Passenger trains operating until May 1, 1971
Freight service-
With each bridge site I have included "Traffic", and followed it with heavy, moderate, light, or abandoned. Heavy refers to the 7 bridges carrying over 60 million gross tons per year, moderate includes 18 bridges carrying 5 to 60 GMT, and light refers to the
11 bridges carrying less than 5 GMT. A further 20 crossings have been abandoned,
or are no longer used by railroads. I am using the tonnage figures from RRPicturearchives' traffic density map and other sources.
Union Pacific's Clinton-36 sees the heaviest traffic, about 160 GMTs per year. It is followed by BNSF's Fort Madison-41 and Burlington-40 and UP's Thebes-51. Over 60 GMT is carried by BNSF's Little Falls-14 and Memphis-Frisco-53 and
Canadian Pacific's La Crosse-32.
The moderate bridges are lead by CP's Minneapolis-17 and Hastings-28, BNSF's
Quincy-43 and Memphis-Frisco-52, and TRRA's St. Louis-MacArthur-50. Following them are BNSF's Brainerd-11 and Minneapolis-19, UP's St. Paul-26, NS's Hannibal-44 and KCS's Vicksburg-54. The remaining moderates are St. Paul-24 and -25,
Dubuque-34, Savanna-35, Rock Island-37, Louisianna-45, Baton Rogue-55 and New Orleans-56.
The 11 bridges carrying a light level of traffic are Bemidji-2, Ball Club-6,
Grand Rapids-7, Camp Ripley-12, Little Falls-13, St. Cloud-16, Minneapolis-18, Minneapolis-23, Davenport-38, Keokuk-42 and St. Louis-Merchants-47.
The 20 crossings which are no longer used by railroads are Bemidji-1, -3, -4, -5, Jacobson-8, Palisade-9, Brainerd-10, Bowlus-15, Minneapolis-20, -21, -22,
Newport-27, Wabasha-29, Winona-30, -31, Prairie du Chien-33, Keithsburg-39,
Alton-46, St. Louis-McKinley-48 and St. Louis-Eads-49.
Bridge type-
The Mississippi River can be broken down into three parts, which in turn decided on whether the crossings were constucted with fixed or moveable spans. The upper river, stretching from the headwaters down to the Twin Cities, was not used by barge traffic. This allowed the 23 railroad crossings to be constructed with simpler fixed spans. This group of bridges now numbers 12 active crossings, with the other 11 no longer in use by railroads.
Between Minneapolis and St. Louis, 23 more crossings were constructed, and 7 of these have been abandoned. All of these were built with some sort of moveable span to facillitate river traffic. During 1960 the bridge at Quincy-43 was replaced with a new fixed crossing with sufficient clearance for river traffic. The 15 operating moveable bridges include 12 swing spans and 3 lift bridges, St. Paul-25, Hastings-28, and Hannibal-44. Burlington-40 will be converted to a lift span to double the width of the navigation channel. The 7 abandoned crossings consisted of 4 swing spans, 1 lift bridge, and two floating pontoon bridges. The lift span was the former Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad's Keithsburg-39. The two pontoon bridges belonged to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific. They were Wabasha-29 and Prairie du Chien-33, which had two separate pontoon bridges.
The remaining 10 bridges from St. Louis to the Gulf were built as high fixed spans,
with enough clearance for river traffic. Only 2 of these last 10 bridges have been abandoned, both at St. Louis.
Bemidji, MN
The 4 uppermost railroad bridges spanning the Mississippi were located adjacent to each other in Bemidji, Minnesota.
Map
Bridge #1 was owned by the Minneapolis, Red Lake and Manitoba Railway, one of the numerous logging railroads that operated in northern Minnesota. The MRL&M was abandoned in 1938. This was the southernmost of the four bridges here, as the river is flowing northward.
WikiMapia
Bridge #2 is a former Great Northern bridge on their route between Grand Forks and Duluth. The Duluth, Superior and Western had built from Duluth to Deer River and
was heading for Winnipeg. In 1887 James J Hill bought it from Canadian Pacific.
Great Northern subsidiary Eastern Railway of Minnesota built the line from Deer River through Bemidji and connected with GN in Fosston. The line opened on September 25, 1898. This is now a BNSF bridge.
WikiMapia Johnweeks.Bemidji
Bridge #3 was on a Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Ste. Marie route from Duluth to Thief River Falls which opened in 1910. The MSP&SSM became the Soo Line in 1961. The Soo Line abandoned their route in pieces and used the BN line more and more
over the years. I'm not sure if CP still runs through here, but their bridge has abandoned. Just east of the bridge is the junction of Nymore. The MSP&SSM abandoned their line from Nymore to Schley, 26 miles to the east, in the 1950s and have been using more of the GN line since. The bridge is now used for a hiking trail.
WikiMapia Johnweeks.Bemidji
Bridge #4 belonged to the Minnesota and International which went from Brainerd to
the Canadian Border at International Falls and passed through Nymore. They
operated into town over a spur using this bridge. In 1941 the M&I was purchased by the Northern Pacific and they probably would have switched over to the GN bridge
until the BN merger in 1970.
WikiMapia
The view from Terraserver is from May of 1992.The Mississippi is traveling northward here from Lake Irving to Lake Bemidji. If you move the image to the west you can
see what looks like a 1 engine, 8 car westbound sitting on the main in Bemidji.
Just to the east you can see the layout at Nymore, including the wye.
Terraserver Googlemap Area historical article Recent photo
Passenger- The last passenger service over these bridges was by Soo Line trains 64 and 65 on May 16, 1959.
Traffic #1- abandoned, and removed
Traffic #2- light (less than 5 GMT)
Traffic #3- abandoned
Traffic #4- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- fixed (all 4)
.
Bemidji, MN
Bridge #5 is also in Bemidji, about 3 miles from the first four. The Minnesota and International ran from Brainerd to the Canadian border at International Falls and became part of the Northern Pacific in 1941. BN abandoned this route in 1985.
The image from Terraserver is from May of 1991. The Mississippi leaves Lake Bemidji here and flows eastward. The former railroad bridge is along the lakeshore and is
now a hiking trail.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Bemidji Photo
Passenger- Northern Pacific passenger service ended in the 1960s.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
Ball Club, MN
Bridge #6 is located west of Ball Club in Itasca county. This is part of the same
former Great Northern route as bridge #2 and they are about 45 miles apart on this BNSF route. This line opened during September 1898. This Terraserver image is
from May of 1991 and the river is flowing south, as it should.
WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Ballclub
Passenger- Service on this Great Northern route ended before 1960.
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Grand Rapids, MN
Bridge #7 is located just west of Grand Rapids. This was a Great Northern line to an iron ore pit and this bridge is now used by BNSF to reach an Ainsworth oriented
strand board plant.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Cohasset
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Jacobson, MN
Bridge #8 was built by the Mississippi, Hill City and Western Railway Co. probably in 1910. The MHC&W became the Hill City Railway Company in 1915. The line ran from
a connection with the Great Northern at Swan River west to Hill City in Aitkin County.
I believe the portion from the bridge to Swan River had been built by the Duluth, Mississippi River and Northern starting in 1892.The Hill City Railway was abandoned during 1935. The crossing of the Mississippi was just north of Jacobson. You can
trace the right of way traveling east-west through the field in this May 1991 image.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- fixed
.
Palisade, MN
Bridge #9 is in Palisade which is also in Aitken county. This is the second former Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Ste. Marie crossing and is part of the same route
as bridge #3 and they were about 90 miles apart. Duluth is 88 miles to the east.
This Terraserver image from May of 1991 was taken after the line had been abandoned in the late 1980s. The bridge is now in use as part of a hiking trail.
WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Palisade
Passenger- Service ended on May 16, 1959 on this route.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
Next comes #10 and #11 in Brainerd.
Here is an article on area history.
Brainerd, MN
Bridge #10 was built during 1884 to serve the narrow gauge Brainerd & Northern Railroad. The trestle was later converted for road use, and then replaced by the current bridge in 1951.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Crowwing3 Article
Traffic- abandoned, and replaced
Bridge type- fixed
.
Brainerd, MN
Bridge #11 is on the former Northern Pacific mainline from Duluth to Fargo and is
used by BNSF. This is the first line built by the Northern Pacific, heading west from Carlton, Minnesota in 1871. Brainerd was the headquarters of the Northern Pacific
until they moved to St. Paul in 1877.
The Minnesota and International ran north from here and probably used this bridge.
Northern Pacific purchased the M&I in 1941.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Brainerd
Passenger- Northern Pacific passenger service west to Fargo and north to
International Falls ended in the 1960s.
Traffic- moderate (20 to 40 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Crow Wing, MN
Projected bridge. If you zoom in on this map of Minnesota in 1871 it shows a cutoff from Crow Wing to the Northern Pacific line west of Brainerd. A cutoff was built from Little Falls to Staples later on. This crossing may have been surveyed, but I think it's safe to say no bridge was built here.
.
Camp Ripley Junction, MN
Bridge #12 is a joint road-rail bridge to the airport owned by Minnesota.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Campripley
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Little Falls, MN
There are two bridges in Little Falls. The first link shows both and the next two links focus on them separately. The former Northern Pacific line from Minneapolis to the Duluth-Fargo line at Brainerd ran up the east side of the river. The first bridge here (#13) carried a line from Little Falls through Glenwood to Browns Valley. In 1889 a cutoff was built from Little Falls to Staples. The southern bridge (#14) was probably built by Northern Pacific later. The line north of Little Falls was abandoned between Camp Ripley and Brainerd. The yard at Little Falls has been moved over to the west side of the river and the line through town is now gone. The BNSF system map
shows the line to Camp Ripley as being leased to the Minnesota National Guard.
Terraserver Googlemap
Bridge #13
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.LFN
Bridge #14. The Terraserver view is from April 1991.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.LFS
Passenger- Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses the river three times, using
Little Falls-14, Hastings-28 and La Crosse-32. Between June 5, 1971 and October 2, 1979 the North Coast Hiawatha used this bridge and the Empire Builder used the old
GN route through Willmar.
Traffic #13- light (less than 5 GMT)
Traffic #14- heavy (60 to 100 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed (both)
Bowlus, MN
Bridge #15 is located near Bowlus, about 10 miles south of Little Falls, and was the third former Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Sault Ste. Marie bridge. This was on the Brooten line to Duluth, opened in 1909 and it was abandoned as a through route in 1990. The bridge would have been abandoned around 1993. The Soo Line crossed
over the BNSF main and the highway on a bridge 2 miles east of here.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Blanchard
Passenger- Service ended during 1962 with a triweekly mixed train.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
St. Cloud, MN
Bridge #16 is in St. Cloud. The St. Paul and Pacific built up the west bank of the Mississippi from Minneapolis and crossed here into St. Cloud. This crossing opened on June 12, 1872 and the line then continued to Moorhead, just east of Fargo. In 1878 James J Hill bought the SP&P and changed the name to the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba. The SPM&M became the Great Northern and in 1970 the GN became part
of Burlington Northern. During 2004 the Northern Lines Railway (Anacostia and Pacific) took over the 24 miles west of St. Cloud, including the bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Image NorthernLinesRailway
Wikipedia Johnweeks.Stcloud
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
The next 10 locations are in the Minneapolis area and are covered in the Twin Cities Trackside supplement from the December 2003 Trains magazine. The first seven of them are in Minneapolis in a seven mile stretch. Photos An interesting railroad in
the Twin Cities is the Twin Cities and Western.
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #17 is another former MSP&SSM bridge which now carries Canadian Pacific's mainline west from the Twin Cities. Construction of the Minneapolis and Pacific
Railway started in 1886 and reached the Canadian border at Portal, North Dakota
during 1893. The M&PR was part of the Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and Atlantic (which became the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste Marie in 1888, and the
Soo Line in 1960) and was aided by Canadian Pacific. At the west end of the bridge
is Camden Place, where an industrial line heads south and the Paynesville subdivision heads west through Humboldt yard. Just to the east this line uses a bridge to cross over part of BNSF's huge Northtown Yard.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Camden
Photo Photo Wikipedia
Traffic- moderate (40 to 60 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #18 is a former Northern Pacific bridge which was built during 1884.
This bridge is now on a BNSF spur running from Northtown yard on the east side
of the river. The bridge was built to allow Northern Pacific access to the downtown Minneapolis area.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.NP
Wikipedia
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #19 is the former Great Northern mainline heading west through Willmar.
This was a St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba route and the bridge opened May 1, 1867. This is still a busy BNSF route and the Twin Cities and Western uses this
crossing as well.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.BNSF
Photos Wikipedia
Passenger- Amtrak used this bridge for the Empire Builder between Minneapolis and Fargo until October 2, 1979, when the route switched to run through Staples. Commuter trains will soon be using this bridge.
Traffic- moderate (20 to 40 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #20 is the James J. Hill stone arch bridge which opened in 1883 after 19
months of construction. This bridge was designed by Charles C. Smith and used St. Cloud granite for 23 spans and a length of 2,100 feet. It was built by the Minneapolis Union Railway Company, which was owned by the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba. The St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba was leased to James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway. Burlington Northern continued to use this bridge for coal traffic until 1980.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Stonearch Article
Article Photo Photo Photos Wikipedia
Passenger- Passenger trains ran over this crossing until February 28, 1978, when Amtrak moved to the Midway Station.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #21 was on the Minnesota Western Railway. The Minnesota Western Railway was purchased by the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad in 1956.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap article Photo?
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #22 was a Northern Pacific bridge which is now in use as a hiking trail. It was built to allow NP passenger trains from St. Paul access to the Great Northern Minneapolis Station. Burlington Northern stopped using this bridge during 1981.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.NP
Photos Photos Wikipedia
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge #23 was the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific mainline heading west to the Pacific. This was called the Short Line Bridge and opened on December 4, 1880. Canadian Pacific and the Minnesota Commercial still use this bridge although it is no longer on a through route and has been pared back to one track.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Shortline
Photo Photos Wikipedia
Passenger- The Milwaukee Road ran passenger trains over this bridge until Amtrak started on May 1, 1971.
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
The next three sites are in St. Paul.
St. Paul, MN
Bridge #24 was part of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha. The "Omaha Road" had been owned by the Chicago and North Western since 1882. This is part of Union Pacific's line to Omaha. The CMSP&P used this bridge as well and today this is joint UP-CP track. This crossing opened September 29, 1869 and the current bridge dates from 1915. It is the northernmost moveable railroad bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Omaha
Wikipedia
Traffic- moderate (5 to 10 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
St. Paul, MN
Bridge #25 is the former Chicago Great Western Robert Street lift bridge. Today this Union Pacific bridge is one of three lift bridges over the Mississippi, along with Hastings#28 and Hannibal#44. There was another lift bridge at Keithsburg.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.CGW
Wikipedia Photos
Traffic- moderate (10 to 20 GMT)
Bridge type- lift bridge
.
St. Paul, MN
Bridge #26 was built during 1910 by the St. Paul Bridge and Terminal, which was a Chicago Great Western subsidiary. The CGW and the SPB&T became part of the Chicago and North Western on July 1, 1968. This bridge is still used by the Union Pacific.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.SPBT
Wikipedia Article
Traffic- moderate (20 to 40 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Newport, MN
Bridge #27 is just south of St. Paul at Newport. This was a Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific bridge built in 1895. It has not been used for rail service since the Rock Island shut down in March of 1980.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Wikipedia
Johnweeks.Newport
Passenger- The last passenger service across the bridge was the Plainsman in 1969.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- swing span
.
Hastings, MN
Bridge #28 is at Hastings and was used by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and
Pacific on their mainline from Chicago. This brought the line back to the east side of the river to enter St. Paul. The St. Paul and Chicago (part of the Milwaukee Road) opened the crossing here on December 9, 1871. The Milwaukee Road was the first railroad from Chicago to the Twin Cities with a route through Iowa completed four years earlier, and this bridge was part of a shorter route using the Winona and St. Peter Railroad. This is one of three lift spans over the river, with the others being
St. Paul-25 and Hannibal-44. The M&STL also had another lift bridge at Keithsburg.
To the north under the highway bridge is the beginning of the former CMSP&P branch to Bayport and Stillwater. This crossed the BNSF mainline under the second highway bridge. West of here is St. Croix Tower and from here to St. Paul BNSF and Canadian Pacific jointly operate their lines.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Hastings
Wikipedia Photo Photo
Passenger- Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses the river three times, using
Little Falls-14, Hastings-28 and La Crosse-32.
Traffic- moderate (40 to 60 GMT)
Bridge type- lift bridge
.
Wabasha, MN - Trevino, WI
Bridge #29 is the first bridge site with Wisconsin on the east bank.
This bridge was from Read's Landing, Minnesota over to Trevino, Wisconsin and
opened in July 1882. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific used this bridge
on their branch to Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. This was one of three CMSP&P pontoon bridges, with the others being in Prairie du Chien (#33) and across the
Missouri at Chamberlain, South Dakota. The bridge was abandoned in 1952 and the CMSP&P reached the branch over the CB&Q (later BN) until 1979 using the Winona#31 bridge. If you follow the former line to the north you will see the BNSF mainline and
the connection that was used until 1979. Along the west bank is the Canadian
Pacific mainline. There are about 50 cars stored along the line and to the south
in this 1992 image is a former roundhouse in Wabasha.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- floating pontoon
.
Winona, MN - East Winona, WI - C&NW
Bridge #30 was at Winona, Minnesota and was a Chicago and North Western bridge
on their line to Rapid City. The first bridge here was built by the Winona and Saint Peter and opened on May 26, 1871. This bridge collapsed under the first train and a new bridge opened on January 21, 1872. The Milwaukee Road used this bridge until
the W&SP fell under C&NW control. Abandonment for the bridge was approved on December 24, 1977. The C&NW used the CMSP&P bridge #32 at La Crosse to reach Winona after it closed.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Winona
USACE article Photo Photo
Passenger- Service with the Rochester 400, which made its last run on July 23, 1963.
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- swing span
.
Winona, MN - East Winona, WI - CB&Q
Bridge #31 was just south of Winona and was a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and Green Bay and Western bridge. This bridge was owned two-thirds by Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (later BN) and one-third by the Green Bay and Western. It opened in 1891 and was closed in 1985. After part of the bridge burned in 1989 it
was dismantled in 1990. During 1988 Burlington Northern used subsidiary Winona
Bridge Railway to run two man Expediter trains from Seattle to the Twin Cities in a
fight against their unions. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific used this
bridge from 1952 to 1979 to reach the Eau Claire branch after bridge #29 was abandoned. Just to the east of this image is the junction of the former Burlington Northern (Chicago, Burlington and Quincy) and the former Green Bay and Western.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Photo Article Article
Article Photo Photos
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- swing span
.
La Crosse, WI - La Crescent, MN
Bridge #32 is part of the mainline of the old Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific. The west side is just north of La Crescent and the east side is La Crosse. The La Crosse area is covered in the March 1999 Trains magazine. The La Crosse and Milwaukee Rail Road reached here in 1858. To reach St. Paul they used the Winona
and St. Peter up the east bank and then into Winona on bridge #30 beginning in January 1872. The W&SP fell under the control of the Chicago and North Western which forced the Milwaukee Road to build this crossing at La Crosse. This route
opened on November 27, 1876. The Chicago and North Western used this bridge to reach Winona after bridge #30 closed in 1977, and now Union Pacific uses this route.
There is a train crossing the river in this Terraserver image. It looks like a two engine 12 car eastbound Empire Builder between the swing spans.
The crossing of the Mississippi actually consists of four bridges. From the west, the Main Channel bridge (with a swing span), the East Channel, French Slough, and Black River channel (with another swing span).
Johnweeks.West Johnweeks.East Johnweeks.French Johnweeks.Black
Googlemap WikiMapia Photo Photo Wikipedia
Passenger- Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses the river three times, using
Little Falls-14, Hastings-28 and La Crosse-32.
Traffic- heavy (about 60 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Prairie du Chien, WI - Marquette, IA
Bridge #33 was another Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific pontoon bridge
linking North McGregor (now Marquette), Iowa and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. This bridge opened in 1874 and was abandoned on October 31,1961, and it was featured
in the January 1952 Trains magazine. This bridge was also covered at http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/ but it has been removed.
"The Pontoon Bridge
at Prairie du Chien was designed and constructed by Mr. John Lawler, to meet the particular wants of that community. It was built at a point where the river is
divided by an island and is about 1 1/4 miles in width from shore to shore. Formerly passenger and freight cars were transferred by ferry boats which had to go around the head or foot of the island, making the distance from landing to landing nearly
four miles; and when floating ice accumulated the river was frequently impassable. The construction of a bridge of either of the standard descriptions would have been particularly difficult or expensive. These circumstances led to the adoption of a system under which the bridge approaches on either shore, and the fixed portions
of the bridge in low water and on the island, consist of piles, while in the channels
of the river pontoons are placed, which are so combined and arranged as to form a railway bridge when the passage of trains is desirable; while when the use of the channels by steamboats or rafts is necessary the pontoons are temporarily
removed. The pontoon in the east channel is made by uniting three ordinary transfer scows which have an aggregate length of 393 feet, and the pontoon in the west channel is a single-deck scow especially constructed for the purpose, 408 feet long,
28 foot beam and 6 feet in depth. Applications for the right to construct bridges of a similar plan at various other points on the Mississippi and elsewhere have been made and granted."
The Milwaukee Road became the first railroad to link Chicago with St. Paul in the fall
of 1867 by using this bridge and heading west across Iowa before heading north. The CMSP&P line running along the west bank and the line across Iowa are now part of the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Print Postcards
Passenger- The Sioux passed through Madison and crossed this bridge and crossed Iowa until January 1960.
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- floating pontoon
.
Dubuque, IA - East Dubuque, IL
Bridge #34 is between Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque in Illinois. This carried the Illinois Central west from Chicago. The first train crossed the bridge on January 1,
1869 and rails reached Sioux City during July 1870. Illinois Central became Illinois Central Gulf on August 10, 1972. This line was sold off to become the Chicago
Central and Pacific on December 24, 1985 and in June 1996 it returned to the Illinois Central. IC was merged into Canadian National in 1999. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy had rights over this bridge into Dubuque, and they are still shown on the
BNSF system map. The Chicago Great Western used this bridge on their mainline and they were merged into the Chicago and North Western on July 1, 1968. C&NW abandoned the Dubuque to Oelwein line during 1981. To the east the line passes through a tunnel before heading south for several miles along with the BNSF (CB&Q). Just to the west some switching is going on. This line also swings south on the west side to run along with the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern (ex CMSP&P) before heading across Iowa.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Dubuque Photos Website Photo Photos Wikipedia Photos Photo Photos
Passenger- Amtrak used this bridge for the Black Hawk from February 14, 1974 until September 30, 1981.
Traffic- moderate (10 to 20 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Savanna, IL - Sabula, IA
Bridge #35 is between Sabula, Iowa and Savanna, Illinois and was part of the
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific line to Kansas City. The first bridge here opened in 1882 and it was replaced in 1906. The CMSP&P became part of the
Soo Line on December 31, 1985 which became Canadian Pacific. In 1997 this was
sold off to I&MRL which became the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern in 2002. The entire crossing here is over two miles long. To the east is a diamond which is about to be crossed by a northbound BN train.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Savanna Photo
ICE website Photo Photo Photo Wikipedia Photo
Passenger- The Milwaukee Road ran passenger trains between Chicago to Omaha
over this line until the start of Amtrak on May 1, 1971.
Traffic- moderate (5 to 10 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Clinton IA - East Clinton, IL
Bridge #36 is at Clinton, Iowa on the old Chicago and North Western mainline to Omaha. The bridge here opened in 1865 (the second to cross the River) and the
C&NW was the first railroad to reach Council Bluffs in 1867. The present double track bridge was built in 1909. Today this is the mainline of the Union Pacific, one of the busiest railroad bridges over the river. The CB&Q had rights over this bridge to reach the north end of the DRI&NW. Tonnage over this bridge during 1955 was 60 GMT. Just to the west on the Terraserver image is an approaching stack train.
Only the first few cars are visible because the next image over was taken at a
different time. Further west is the yard. The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern runs down
the west bank and has a yard to the south. Trailryder has an interesting post on this bridge on page 5.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Clinton
Photo Photos Photos Wikipedia Photo
Passenger- The C&NW operated passenger trains #1 and #2 (the former
Kate Shelley 400) between Chicago and Clinton over this bridge until Amtrak began
on May 1, 1971.
Traffic- heavy (about 160 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Bridge #37 and #38 are in the Quad Cities and are about a mile and a half apart.
Rock Island, IL - Davenport, IA
Bridge #37 is the Government bridge which was used by the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific. The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi was built by the CRI&P in 1856 about 600 yards north of #36, and it was replaced by a stronger bridge in 1866. A new iron single track bridge was built by the Corps of Engineers and opened in 1873
at the present site. This bridge was replaced by the current iron and steel bridge
during 1896, fitted with double track. It was owned jointly by the Government and
the CRI&P until 1980 when the CRI&P broke up. It is now owned by the Government and used by the Iowa Interstate. I consider the Government bridge to be a replacement for the original, and therefore the two crossings / 4 bridges are one site. The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern line to Kansas City runs down the west bank. During 1964 the CRI&P was hauling 20 GMT over this bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap USACE article Johnweeks.Rockisland
IAIS website Wikipedia Photo Photos Photo Photos
Passenger- Rock Island passenger service to Kansas City and Omaha over this bridge ended in the 1960s.
Traffic- moderate (5 to 10 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Davenport, IA - Rock Island, IL
Bridge #38 is the Crescent bridge now owned by BNSF. The Rock Island Bridge and Terminal Company began construction of this bridge in 1897 and it opened in 1900.
The Davenport, Rock Island and Northwestern took over in 1901, jointly owned by
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul.
During 1995 the owners split the Railway with CP Rail (Soo Line) getting the Iowa trackage and BN getting the Illinois trackage and the bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Wikipedia Johnweeks.Crescent
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Keithsburg, IL
Bridge #39 was at first an Iowa Central Railway bridge (Photo) between West Keithsburg, Iowa and Keithsburg, Illinois. The Iowa Central became part of the Minneapolis and St. Louis on January 1, 1912 and the M&SL was purchased by the Chicago and North Western on November 1, 1960. Around 1912 the M&STL replaced the Iowa Central bridge with a lift span. The C&NW abandoned this line in 1971. Victrola1 has a very interesting post about this site on page 4. Burlington Northern GP9 1800 is now on display in Keithsburg, painted as M&STL 700, within sight of the bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Keithsburg
Wikipedia
Traffic- abandoned, lift span removed
Bridge type- lift bridge
.
Burlington, IA - Gulfport, IL
Bridge #40 is at Burlington, Iowa and is on the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy mainline from Chicago to Denver. This bridge opened in 1868 and with the affiliated Burlington and Missouri River this route reached the Missouri River at Plattsmouth in 1869. This is now a well used BNSF mainline, and there is a medium sized yard just to the northwest. The swing span here will be replaced with a lift span for river traffic.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Burlington Press release
Photos Wikipedia Photo Photo Photos
BNSF's important yard at Galesburg is 42 miles to the east. Terraserver
Passenger- This bridge carries Amtrak's California Zephyr between Illinois and Iowa.
Traffic- heavy (about 100 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Fort Madison, IA - Niota, IL
Bridge #41 runs between Fort Madison, Iowa and Niota, Illinois on the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe transcon. The first bridge opened here in 1887. This was
replaced by the two level bridge in 1927. The 525-foot swing span is the longest
two level span in the world. There is a westbound double stack train to the west
along the water front. There is a BNSF (CB&Q) line running down the west bank
as well.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Ftmadison
Photo Photos Wikipedia Photo Photos
Passenger- This bridge is used by Amtrak's Southwest Chief.
Traffic- heavy (about 110 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Keokuk, IA - Hamilton, IL
Bridge #42 brought the Toledo, Peoria and Western into Keokuk, Iowa. This bridge opened in 1870. The TP&W was merged into the ATSF in December 1983.Keokuk Junction Railway purchased 34 miles of track, including this bridge, from the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe in 1986. The Wabash, and later NS had rights over
this bridge to reach Keokuk. The bridge is owned by the city of Keokuk and the
upper deck roadway was closed when the road bridge to the south opened.
There was an interurban crossing the river here (Keokuk Electric ?) but I doubt they had their own bridge.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Keokuk
Photo KJRY website KJRY site Wikipedia Photo Photos
During the big flood in 1993 a Brill trolley car operated on the top of the
Union Electric dam as area bridges were closed.
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Quincy, IL - West Quincy, MO
Bridge #43 is another Chicago, Burlington and Quincy bridge, connecting Quincy, Illinois to West Quincy, Missouri. The bridge opened in 1868, allowing the CB&Q (through the Hannibal and St. Joseph) to reach Kansas City in 1869. During 1960 the present bridge opened on a new alignment, with sufficient overhead clearance for river traffic. This is now BNSF's secondary Chicago to Kansas City route, with priority traffic going through Fort Madison. Norfolk Southern had trackage rights over this bridge to reach Quincy after 1978. The bridge opened during 1960, replacing an earlier CB&Q bridge just to the south, which had a swing span on the west end.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Quincy
Photo Photo Wikipedia Photo Bridgehunter
Passenger- Amtrak used this bridge with the Illinois Zephyr starting on November 14, 1971 until the Illinois Zephyr pulled back to Quincy on May 1, 1994. Amtrak does run empty trains accross the bridge to lay over between runs in West Quincy.
Traffic- moderate (40 to 60 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
Hannibal, MO - East Hannibal, IL
Bridge #44 runs between Hannibal, Missouri and East Hannibal, Illinois. This crossing
of the river first opened in 1871 and was built by the Wabash Railway. The Hannibal bridge featured a swing span until December 1993, when a former Southern Railway
lift span from Alabama was installed. The lift span is on the west side, along with a diamond over the BNSF (CB&Q) line followed by the only tunnel that was on the Wabash. The Wabash opened their route to Kansas City in 1894 by using trackage rights over a MKT line (which they later bought) from Hannibal to Moberly. The CB&Q, and later BN, had trackage rights over this bridge until 1978. To the west the line swings south to run beside the BNSF through town before heading west across Missouri.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Johnweeks.Hannibal
Trailryder Photo Photo Wikipedia Bridgehunter Tunnel article
This 1999 view shows the railroad bridge to the north with the new road bridge
under construction and the old road bridge to the south.
Terraserver image
Traffic- moderate (20 to 40 GMT)
Bridge type- lift bridge
.
Louisiana, MO
Bridge #45 was a Chicago and Alton bridge that opened in 1873, and was rebuilt during 1898 and again in 1945. During 1878 the C&A had the shortest route from Chicago to Kansas City. The Baltimore and Ohio purchased the railroad in 1929 and sold it in 1945 to the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. In 1972 the GM&O became part of Illinois Central Gulf, and this line was again sold in 1987 when it became the Chicago, Missouri and Western. It is now Gateway Western, a part of Kansas City Southern.
Terraserver image Googlemap WikiMapia Bridgehunter
Johnweeks.Louisiana Article Wikipedia Photo Photo
Passenger- Service lasted until 1960 with a Gulf, Mobile and Ohio motor train
between Kansas City and Bloomington, Illinois.
Traffic- moderate (5 to 10 GMT)
Bridge type- swing span
.
Alton, IL - West Alton, MO
Bridge #46 is a former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy bridge that opened in 1894. This swing span drawbridge was used by Burlington Northern until 1988, and was the southernmost moveable bridge over the river. The bridge was just north of the US 67 bridge pictured.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Photo Photos Bridgehunter Photos
Traffic- abandoned, and removed
Bridge type- swing span
.
The next four sites cross into St. Louis from Illinois. They are about 3 miles apart.
St. Louis site Photos TRRAsite
.
St. Louis, MO - Venice, IL - Merchants
Bridge #47 is called Merchants bridge. It opened in 1890, after Eads bridge, and
has been operated by Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis since.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Bridgehunter
Johnweeks.Merchants Photos Wikipedia Photos
Passenger- Amtrak's Lincoln Service and the Texas Eagle occasionally detour over Merchants rather than the usual MacArthur.
Traffic- light (less than 5 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
St. Louis, MO - Venice, IL - McKinley
Bridge #48 is called McKinley bridge, and was owned by the Illinois Terminal. Construction of the bridge was completed during 1910. The bridge was used until
1979 when the Illinois Terminal moved over to Merchants bridge because the
wooden eastern approach trestle was unsafe.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Bridgehunter
Johnweeks.Mckinley Restoration article Wikipedia Photos Photo
Passenger- Service ended with St. Louis to Granite City PCC cars on June 21, 1958.
Traffic- abandoned
Bridge type- fixed
.
St. Louis - Eads
Bridge #49 is Eads bridge. This was the first St. Louis bridge, opening in 1874. The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis was formed in 1889 to run the bridge. The last rail traffic was in 1974 and the bridge was traded to the City in 1989. The
Gateway arch is on the west bank just to the north.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Bridgehunter USACE article
Johnweeks.Eads Article Photo Wikipedia Photos Photos Photos
Passenger- Eads bridge was used by Amtrak for the National Limited until 1974. The St. Louis MetroLink light rail system now uses Eads Bridge.
Traffic- abandoned (by railroads)
Bridge type- fixed
.
St. Louis - MacArthur
Bridge #50 is named MacArthur bridge, and it is now the principle railroad crossing at St. Louis. The bridge was built by the city to break the monoply held by the TRRA, owners at the time of Merchants and Eads bridges. MacArthur finally opened to railroad traffic in 1928, after a long delayed construction period. MacArthur was traded to the TRRA in 1989, in exchange for Eads.
Terraserver WikiMapia Googlemap Bridgehunter
Johnweeks.Macarthur Wikipedia Photos Photos
Passenger- Amtrak's Lincoln Service and the Texas Eagle use MacArthur Bridge to cross over the Mississippi.
Traffic- moderate (40 to 60 GMT)
Bridge type- fixed
.
FERRY-The Missouri-Illinois Railroad operated in Illinois and in Missouri and
connected here by boat. Service was from Ste. Genevieve, Missouri to Kellogg,
Illinois between 1902 and July 18, 1961. Bridge #51 was then used until the M-I was merged into the Missouri Pacific.
Terraserver Googlemap M-I article
There is a good article on the Mississippi River rail ferry routes in the January 1984 Trains magazine.
.
Thebes
Bridge #51 crosses between Illmo in Missouri and Thebes in Illinois and was built by
the Southern Illinois and Missouri Bridge Company, owned by 5 railroads. Mergers
made this a Missouri Pacific (60%) and St. Louis Southwestern (40%) bridge. The Thebes bridge opened on April 18, 1905. This is now a Union Pacific bridge and BNSF has trackage rights over the bridge from the UP+SP merger. This bridge, and the
ro