Rating:
4 votes

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge

Dunn County, Wisconsin
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Abandoned Red Cedar River Bridge

From Upstream

Photo taken by John Marvig in May 2012

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Street View 

Description 

This stunning 2-span Quadrangular Warren through truss bridge crosses the Red Cedar River on an abandoned railroad grade in Menomonie, WI. The bridge is a perfect complement to the beautiful setting it is located in, and would make a perfect bike and pedestrian trail bridge. I'm not sure how long it's been abandoned, but the bridge appears to be in very good condition and would require very little effort and fundage to transform it into a trail bridge.

Facts 

Overview
Abandoned 2-span Quadrangular Warren through truss bridge over Red Cedar River on Abandoned Union Pacific
Location
Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin
Status
Abandoned
History
Built ca 1894
Builder
- Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois
Design
7 Spans Trestle
2-150' Through Quadrangular Truss Spans
4 Spans Trestle
1 Span I-Beam
7 Spans Trestle
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 150.0 ft.
Total length: 470.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+44.88309, -91.93374   (decimal degrees)
44°52'59" N, 91°56'01" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/584208/4970515 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Menomonie North
Inventory number
BH 47517 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (3,822)
Abandoned (1,374)
Beam (6,056)
Built 1894 (136)
Built during 1890s (1,556)
Chicago & North Western Railway (473)
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (17)
Dunn County, Wisconsin (15)
Have street view (9,908)
Lassig Bridge & Iron Works (39)
Lattice through truss (198)
Lattice truss (265)
Menomonie, Wisconsin (5)
Owned by city (3,053)
 Pedimented portal bracing (29)
Quadrangular lattice through truss (80)
Railroad (4,083)
Red Cedar River (Wisconsin) (7)
Riveted (1,011)
Span length 125-175 feet (2,956)
Steel stringer (2,331)
Through truss (9,211)
Timber stringer (1,860)
Total length 250-500 feet (3,372)
Truss (23,575)
Union Pacific Railroad (797)
Wisconsin (804)

Update Log 

  • December 10, 2012: Updated by Luke Harden: Added probable build date
  • December 9, 2012: Updated by John Marvig: Added categories "Chicago & North Western Railway", "Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway", "Union Pacific Railroad", "Riveted"
  • January 4, 2011: Added by Matthew Lohry

Sources 

  • Matt Lohry
  • John Marvig - johnmarvig [at] chaska [dot] net
  • Luke Harden - lukemh9 [at] gmail [dot] com
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Comments 

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by John Marvig (johnmarvig [at] chaska [dot] net)

There might be another plate in the middle. It was hair raising enough to walk out as far as I did.

I know it was built the same time as the one over Wilson creek.

The portal bracing is the same as the bridge at Chippewa falls, built 1894. Mid 1890s is a good guess

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by Luke Harden (lmharden [at] iastate [dot] edu)

Lassig put the build year on the lower half of the plaques, which has been broken off in this instance.

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by Clark Vance (cvance [at] dogmail [dot] com)

And now, did you notice the year?

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by John Marvig (johnmarvig [at] chaska [dot] net)

Walked out on the bridge. Lassig B&I is a definite builder

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by Luke Harden (lmharden [at] iastate [dot] edu)

Based on the plaque shape, I'd say Lassig B&I.

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridge
Posted December 10, 2012, by Clark Vance (cvance [at] dogmail [dot] com)

Anyone have a guess about the builder from the plaque?