UP - Eau Claire River Bridge

Photos 

UP Eau Claire River Bridge

Connection

Photo taken by John Marvig in June 2013

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BH Photo #256692

Map 

Street View 

Chicago Northwestern Bridges around Eau Claire 

The most unique of the three C&NW Eau Claire Bridges, this deck truss bridge has had a long history. The first bridge was built here in 1871, and was a wooden howe deck truss bridge. Next, a lattice deck truss, extremely similar to the Northwestern Bridge just west of here was constructed in place of the aging wood bridge. This bridge had two lattice deck truss spans of 157'2", and a 80' Deck Plate Girder approach on each side.

In 1898, the aging deck truss bridge was replaced with a modernized version of it. The dimensions remained the same, but the truss type became a double intersection warren deck truss.

In 1901, in the foreshadowing of the large double tracking project, the line between Eau Claire and Altoona was double tracked. This bridge then entered service as a gauntlet bridge, meaning two tracks share one set of tracks. If you look at pictures of the bridge deck prior to ca. 1992, it is very clear that there are two tracks on top.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1742831

In 1916, just after the realignment of the tracks, a second bridge was proposed, but never happened due to financial problems.

By 1991, the gauntlet was removed, and the bridge was reduced to a 30 MPH speed limit.

Timeline:

1870-The Western Wisconsin Railway arrives at Eau Claire and builds massive wood truss structures over both the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers.

1880/1- both the Chippewa River Bridge and the Eau Claire River Bridge are rebuilt

1898-The Eau Claire River Bridge is completely rebuilt, and new approaches added to the Chippewa River Bridge

1901-The Eau Claire River bridge becomes a gauntlet, line between Yukon Jct and Altoona is double tracked

1911-work begins on a new high speed double track bypass to the single track high bridge over the Chippewa River. Work begins on a new double track bridge about 1000 yards upstream of the current bridge (600 yards above the dam)

August 6th 1912-a new 2.15 mile double track line built with high speed curves and grades opens, allowing trains to travel at a maximum of 60 miles per hour through Eau Claire, until the Eau Claire River Bridge. The new bridge significantly cuts the traffic on the old one.

1914-A double track line between Milwaukee and St. Paul is completed, allowing for high speed passenger and freight travel between the two cities, going through Eau Claire along the way.

1916-Plans for a second bridge parallel to the existing one over the Eau Claire river are brought to life, but are later deemed too expensive

1991-The double track is completely removed

1992-old Chippewa River Bridge abandoned

1995-Chicago & Northwestern is swallowed by Union Pacific

2007-Excel Energy purchases old Chippewa River Bridge from Union Pacific due to demolition plans, donates it to Eau Claire to save their gas line

2013-Old Chippewa River Bridge to become a trail

Facts 

Overview

Double-intersection Warren deck truss bridge over Eau Claire River on Union Pacific Railroad

Location

Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Status

Open to traffic

History

Bridge replaced an 1881 lattice deck truss bridge in 1898, reused old piers. Became a gauntlet bridge in 1901, plan to build second bridge in 1916 failed, gauntlet removed 1991

Builder

- Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois

Railroads

- Chicago & North Western Railway (CNW)
- Union Pacific Railroad (UP)

Design

2-157'2" double intersection warren deck truss spans with a 80' deck plate girder span on either side

Dimensions

Length of largest span: 157.2 ft.
Total length: 474.3 ft.
Deck width: 14.0 ft.

Also called

C&NW - Gauntlet Bridge
C&NW - Bridge #267

Approximate latitude, longitude

+44.81741, -91.46621   (decimal degrees)
44°49'03" N, 91°27'58" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

15/621269/4963812 (zone/easting/northing)

Quadrangle map:

Eau Claire East

Inventory number

BH 54289 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Update Log 

• April 8, 2018: New photos from John Marvig
• December 28, 2015: New photos from Charles Kuehn
• December 27, 2015: New photos from Charles Kuehn
• July 10, 2014: New Street View added by Ralph Demars
• June 18, 2013: New photos from John Marvig
• June 16, 2013: Updated by John Marvig: Added Builder
• November 4, 2012: Essay added by John Marvig

Sources 

• John Marvig - marvigj27 [at] gmail [dot] com
• Charles Kuehn
• John Marvig Railroad Bridge Photography - John Marvig's Page Documenting This Bridge

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