John Marvig

About Me 

Email: johnmarvig [at] chaska [dot] net
Website: http://pegnsean.net/~johnm/

I am a 15 year old living in Minnesota, who takes quite a passion in photographing old and historic railroad bridges. I run my own website dedicated to my unique hobby.

Most of my photography is from Minnesota, with a good chunk coming from Iowa and Illinois, and some Wisconsin and North Dakota. I hope to expand my capabilities to South Dakota, Michigan, Nebraska and Missouri soon as well.

Random Selection of Photos 

(Reload the page to see more.)


Union Pacific Straight River Bridge #8
Short Line Bridge
5th Street Trail Bridge
IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

IAIS Alleyway Bridge #1
Fertile Railroad Bridge
MN&S Quentin Ave Bridge
Union Pacific Rocky River Bridge

UP Overpass near Radcliffe
IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge
BNSF Crow River Bridge
Kenyon Road Bridge

IAIS Alleyway Bridge #2
UP Mud Creek Bridge
CN Cedar River Bridge
13th Street Overpass

Abandoned CNW Des Moines River Bridge
TC&W 160th Street Bridge
CP Mud Creek Arch Bridge
Bottineau Trail Clearwater River Bridge

Recent Updates 

Chaska Swing Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Minnesota River
May 14, 2013: New photos
Chaska Trestle (Carver County, Minnesota)
Lost Timber stringer bridge over Minnesota River Overflow on Former Chaska-Shakopee Trail
May 14, 2013: New photos
UP Lockman Trestle (Monroe County, Iowa)
Abandoned timber stringer bridge over 147th ST/Miller Creek branch on former UP RR by the old town of Lockman.
May 13, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Imported NBI Information
UP Stone Arch (Linn County, Iowa)
Bridge over Unnamed Stream on UP
May 11, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added categories "Chicago & North Western Railway", "railroad"
UP West Beaver Creek Bridge (Greene County, Iowa)
Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over West Beaver Creek on Union Pacific Railroad
May 9, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Bridge was destroyed by derailment
BNSF Four Mile Bridge (Wapello County, Iowa)
Warren through truss with all verticals bridge over Des Moines River on BNSF RR
May 7, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added information
White Creek Bridge (Monroe County, Iowa)
Pony truss bridge over White Creek on 142nd Street
May 7, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Changed to open based on google maps image
IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (Polk County, Iowa)
Pony truss bridge over Walnut Creek on Iowa Interstate Railroad
May 7, 2013: Photo imported
DM&E Foster Viaduct #1 (Monroe County, Iowa)
Deck plate girder bridge over Kinser Creek and 672 Avenue on Railroad
May 7, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added Dimension
UP Des Moines River Bridge (Monroe County, Iowa)
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River on UP RR
May 7, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added information
UP South Skunk River Bridge (Mahaska County, Iowa)
Warren deck truss bridge over South Skunk River on Union Pacific Railroad
May 5, 2013: Added
Burnt House Road Bridge (Cumberland County, Pennsylvania)
Concrete arch bridge over Yellow Breeches Creek on PA 3021 (Burnt House Rd)
May 1, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Lost according to GE imagery
Burlington Rail Bridge (Des Moines County, Iowa)
Through truss bridge over Mississippi River on BNSF Railway in Burlington
May 1, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Updated Design of main span and lost date
Bradleyville Bridge (Taney County, Missouri)
Open-spandrel arch bridge over Beaver Creek on MO 76
May 1, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Updated Lost Date
UP MN-93 Overpass (Sibley County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over MN-93 on Union Pacific Railroad
April 30, 2013: Added
County 41 Bevens Creek Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Slab bridge over Bevens Creek on Csah 41
April 30, 2013: Added
Creek Road Chaska Creek Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over Chaska Creek on Creek Road
April 30, 2013: Added
County 40 Bevens Creek Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Girder bridge over Bevens Creek on Csah 40
April 30, 2013: Added
2nd Street Sylvan Island Bridge (Rock Island County, Illinois)
Pratt through truss bridge over Sylvan Slough on 2nd Street
April 30, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Bridge is now closed
BNSF Des Moines River Bridge #1 (Lee County, Iowa)
Warren deck truss bridge over Des Moines River on Railroad
April 30, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Updated design to deck truss
CNW US-212 Overpass (Carver County, Minnesota)
Lost Steel stringer bridge over Former US-212 (Flying Cloud Drive) on Former C&NW RR
April 29, 2013: Added
TC&W County 11 Overpass (Carver County, Minnesota)
Lost Timber stringer bridge over County Road 11 (Victoria Drive) on Twin Cities Western Railroad
April 29, 2013: Added
RI Wapsipinicon River Bridge (Scott County, Iowa)
Lost Through truss bridge over Wapsipinicon River on Former Rock Island Railroad
April 21, 2013: Added
RI East Nishnabotna River Bridge (Pottawattamie County, Iowa)
Through truss bridge over East Nishnabotna River on abandoned rail alignment
April 21, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added information
UP County 69 Bridge (Scott County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over County Road 69 (1st Avenue West) on Union Pacific Railroad
April 20, 2013: Added
BNSF Railroad Bridge (Anoka County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over Coon Rapids Blvd Extension on BNSF RR (to Duluth)
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added categories "Northern Pacific Railroad", "Great Northern Railway", "Ballasted Deck"
BNSF Railroad Bridge (Anoka County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over Coon Rapids Blvd Extension on BNSF RR (to Central MN)
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added categories "Ballasted Deck", "Northern Pacific Railroad", "Great Northern Railway"
TC&W Buffalo Creek Bridge 3 (McLeod County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over Buffalo Creek on Twin Cities Western Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
TC&W Buffalo Creek Bridge 2 (McLeod County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over Buffalo Creek on Twin Cities Western Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
TC&W County 140 Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over County Road 140 on Twin Cities Western Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
TC&W County 36 Bridge (Carver County, Minnesota)
Slab bridge over County Road 36 on Twin Cities & Western Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
TC&W Minnehaha Creek Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over Minnehaha Creek on Twin Cities & Western Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Stone Arch Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Stone arch bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Northern Pacific Bridge #9 (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Pratt deck truss bridge over Mississippi River on Northern Pacific Railroad (now pedestrian trail) in Minneapolis
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Nicollet Island Railroad Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Petit Through Truss and Deck Plate Girder bridge over Mississippi River on BNSF Railway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
St. Anthony Parkway Railroad Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Reinforced Concrete Slab bridge over St Anthony Pkwy on Cp Rail
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
MN&S MN-7 Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Th 7 on Canadian Pacific
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Midtown Greenway Lake of The Isles Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Slab bridge over Lake Of The Isles on Midtown Greenway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Midtown Greenway Knox Avenue Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Concrete Slab bridge over Knox Ave S on Midtown Greenway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Midtown Greenway Dean Pkwy Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Slab bridge over Dean Parkway on Midtown Greenway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
M&STL MN-7 Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over MN-7 on Lake Minnetonka LRT Trail
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
BNSF Crow River Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Warren through truss bridge over Crow River on BNSF Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
BNSF Virginia Ave Bridge (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Steel stringer bridge over Virginia Ave on BNSF Railway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
BNSF CSAH 51 Bridge (Ramsey County, Minnesota)
Concrete arch bridge over CSAH 51 on the BNSF Railway in St. Paul
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
MN&S Lynn Avenue Bridge (Scott County, Minnesota)
Slab bridge over Lynn Ave on Canadian Pacific Railway
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
M&STL Bridge #42 (Scott County, Minnesota)
Pony/through plate girder bridge over Unamed Creek on Union Pacific Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
UP Mud Creek Bridge (Rice County, Minnesota)
I-beam bridge over Mud Creek on Union Pacific Railroad (former Rock Island)
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Union Pacific Straight River Bridge #2 (Rice County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over Straight River on Union Pacific Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
Union Pacific Straight River Bridge #1 (Rice County, Minnesota)
Deck plate girder bridge over Straight River on Union Pacific Railroad
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"
PGR MN-3 Overpass (Rice County, Minnesota)
Through Plate Girder Bridge over MN-3 on Progressive Rail
April 20, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added category "Ballasted Deck"

Recent Comments 

[Respond]
Chaska Swing Bridge (Minnesota)
Posted May 10, 2013

Remarkably, while searching around here today I found significant amounts of scrap metal on the south bank. I plan on going back to find what else is down there sometime soon.

[Respond]
UP West Beaver Creek Bridge (Iowa)
Posted May 9, 2013

Bridge was damaged this morning, and likley completely destroyed

http://raccoonvalleyradio.com/2013/05/train-derailment-east-of-grand-junction/

[Respond]
Wabash Bridge (Iowa)
Posted May 7, 2013

No way this was built 1860. I wonder who to contact to find out a real date...

[Respond]
CGW Des Moines River Bridge (Iowa)
Posted May 6, 2013

I am currently leading a charge to save the last span of the bridge. I have heavy support from Des Moines historians, who either want it rehabbed as an overlook, or relocated. I have made a save the bridge page too. I think we can preserve the remaining history here.

https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheDSMRRBridge

[Respond]
Milwaukee Road Straight River Bridge (Minnesota)
Posted May 4, 2013

This bridge was built after 1918. A valuation chart says in 1918 it was a Through Truss. Another chart says rails here are from 1941. Maybe the date is 1941?

Builders Plate Database
Posted May 3, 2013

My thoughts after hearing that Clark would be it is a major project, and many people might have to contribute efforts. I do have a website dedicated to bridge photography, but I'm so packed with reconstructing my site, and other preservation projects I wouldn't have time at the moment.

Does James have anything to weigh in on this? I agree with Clark, useful and handy.

New Site Feature Idea
Posted May 2, 2013

Upon attempting to do research about a specific type of plaque on a couple bridges in Iowa, an idea occurred to me. Would it be an idea to create a database of builders plates, separated by road and railroad, with a breif description of the company? I think from a research standpoint, especially with people like me, it would make life a lot easier. Especially when searching for a specific plaque shape.

[Respond]
2nd Street Sylvan Island Bridge (Illinois)
Posted April 30, 2013

http://qctimes.com/news/local/fencing-goes-up-to-block-sylvan-island-bridge-in-moline/article_9beff152-61e5-5b9a-a30b-db2fa7a0e401.html?comment_form=true

Closed....

[Respond]
CR 51 Bridge (Minnesota)
Posted April 20, 2013

Based on photos in link and uncertanty surrounding bridge design, and the key stone design, this was almost certainly a former railroad. A C&NW map (which I can no longer find) showed the line had weaved back and forth around here, and was sold to the county upon a new line being constructed in 1899.

If this is the case, there may be similar bridges still in existence on Chatfield Road (county 51) around here. It has been a couple years since I was back here, but there are many creeks and possible sites for more.

[Respond]
Riverdale Park Pedestrian Bridge (South Dakota)
Posted April 20, 2013

Bridge was NOT relocated from 474th Street. It is an original RI bridge.

[Respond]
DM&E Des Moines River Bridge (Iowa)
Posted April 14, 2013

The bridge pictured here is on the UP line, not the DM&E. The DM&E Bridge is a pony truss. This one might be north of Algona.

[Respond]
IANR Shell Rock River Bridge (Iowa)
Posted April 9, 2013

Same truss design as UP ex RI bridge over Des Moines River in Des Moines. That one was built 1920 by American Bridge Company, and contains almost an identical design to this one (based off the limited truss views)

[Respond]
Red Cedar River Bridge (Wisconsin)
Posted April 7, 2013

Drive over it today. Cranes and barges are in river. Replacement structures to be built.

[Respond]
Blair Railroad Bridge (Nebraska)
Posted April 6, 2013

Apparently this one is going to be removed once a new double track bridge opens just upstream. No date set. Still mixed word on the plans...

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33840

http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/attachments/2011/blair_fast-facts.pdf

[Respond]
MILW Cedar River Bridge (Iowa)
Posted April 5, 2013

Probably lost to the MILW needing money in its last days. Steel has scrap value.