St. Paul Union Pacific Rail Bridge

St. Paul Union Pacific Rail Bridge
The St. Paul Union Pacific Rail Bridge in open position
Coordinates 44°55′07″N 93°03′03″W / 44.91861°N 93.05083°W / 44.91861; -93.05083Coordinates: 44°55′07″N 93°03′03″W / 44.91861°N 93.05083°W / 44.91861; -93.05083
Carries One track of the Union Pacific Railroad
Crosses Mississippi River
Locale St. Paul, Minnesota
Maintained by Union Pacific Railroad
ID number K-526.82A
Characteristics
Design Swing bridge
Total length 1275 feet
Width 18 feet
Longest span 401 feet
Clearance below 20 feet
History
Opened 1910

St. Paul Union Pacific Rail Bridge, also known as the Hoffman Swing Bridge,[1] is a swing bridge that spans the Mississippi River between South Saint Paul, Minnesota and Saint Paul, Minnesota in the United States. It was built in 1910 by the St. Paul Bridge and Terminal Railway, and was rebuilt in 1925, after a flood in 1951, and again in 1982.

The Union Pacific Railroad mainline from Des Moines, informally known as the "Spine Line", enters the Twin Cities area and terminates in a yard in South Saint Paul. This line was formerly part of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. From this area, traffic to downtown St. Paul takes two routes: one across this bridge, with yards on the east side of the river south of Dayton's Bluff; and the other route using the St. Paul Union Pacific Vertical-lift Rail Bridge into downtown St. Paul.

On October 26, 2017, a towboat struck a stationary bridge pier.[2][3] The towboat was the “Cooperative Venture,” owned by American River Transportation Company. It was moving several barges with dry goods but nothing was spilled. Repairs begin shortly afterward. Traffic was routed to the St. Paul Union Pacific Vertical-lift Rail Bridge, and other locations.

On August 8, 2018, a train carrying oil across the bridge derailed, puncturing a oil tanker car and spilling 3,200 gallons of oil into the Mississippi River.[1]

See also

References

  • Costello, Mary Charlotte (2002). Climbing the Mississippi River Bridge by Bridge, Volume Two: Minnesota. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. ISBN 0-9644518-2-4.
  • Meyer, Dan. "Twin City Railfan's Guide". Retrieved 2006-05-25.
  1. 1 2 Malloy, Theresa (August 8, 2018). "Train Derailment Causes Fuel Leakage into Mississippi River". KSTP-TV. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  2. ↑ Tad Vezner - Towboat crash in St. Paul causes $500K in damage to bridge. St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 4, 2017
  3. ↑ Steve Glischinski - damages Union Pacific bridge over Mississippi River Trains Magazine, October 31, 2017
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