Industrial History: CP+Amtrak/Milw 1981 Bridge over Mississippi River at Hastings, MN

Monday, July 16, 2018

CP+Amtrak/Milw 1981 Bridge over Mississippi River at Hastings, MN

(Bridge Hunter, John A. Weeks III, 3D Satellite)

This 1981 lift bridge replaced an 1891 Milwaukee swing bridge. The 1891 bridge replaced an 1871 swing bridge. The Amtrak trains are the Empire Builder.

John A. Weeks III,

Flickr by Mark LLanuza
Northbound CP train crossing the former Milwaukee bridge at Hasting Minn .The Milwaukee Rd logo still in great shape since the bridge was built over 40 years ago

Jeffrey Blaine posted
The old Milwaukee Road raising railroad bridge across the Mississippi River at Hastings Minnesota.

Rolling Rail Productions posted

9-8-21 Hastings, MN.   A CP train crosses over the old Milwaukee Road lift bridge and heads down the river line towards La Crosse.

Hi-RES: https://flic.kr/p/2mnmSXt

Edward Lovell shared

Frank Keller Photography posted
CP8006 crosses the Mississippi River on a lift bridge of Milwaukee origins. Notice the placard on the top of the right column. So neat to witness this. 5.7.23

Dennis Kilbride posted
I believe Canadian Pacific RR owns and operate this lift bridge out of Hastings Minnesota over the Mississippi River. Barges by Federal law get priority over usage if a train or barge come up to the bridge at the same time. If a train is on the bridge when the barge calls for it they have 10 mins to get off or the Carrier/Owner of train pays 10k fine, so they tell the train crews.

Dennis commented on his posting

Dennis commented on his posting
Got a few pics this spring of trains in the approach.

Dennis commented on his posting

It costs money to remove the sign, so CP allows it to remain.

Weeks

Marty Bernard posted, October 1985
On the northside of Hastings the Milwaukee Road crossed the Mississippi. [northbound train] Walt Dunlap photo.

Terry Kennedy-Lares posted five photos during the Flood of 2019 with the comment: "Flooding on the Mississippi near the lift bridge, Hastings, MN."

One of 23 photos posted by Deborah Holdgrafer after the flood waters went down some. Some of the photos show a lot of debris in the park, etc.

Dennis Kilbride posted a video of an Amtrak crossing the bridge.
"I have yet to see any barges using the bridge yet due to the flooding."

Dennis Kilbride commented on his post

A different angle.

Deborah Holdgrafer posted
Out my window... ICE OUT. Hastings, Mn.
[According to the comments, there is still no tow traffic. They run all season in St. Louis. I wonder how far north they run during Winter.]

Frank Keller Photography posted
A CP train crossing the Mississippi River on the ex-Milwaukee bridge in Hastings, MN.
Peter Zimmermann: CPKC River subdivision if I remember correctly.

And a towfan gets the bridge in the up position.

Aaron Seefeld posted
Marquette's Captain John Reynolds approaching Lock 2 northbound on Saturday afternoon. [May 2021]
[The RR bridge is framed by the US-61 tied-arch bridge.]

(new window) (source) On 7-15-2018 in Hastings Mn on the CP River sub we captured a CP local backing over the lift bridge to get into the clear at Hastings with the CP 2301 leading & CP 2222 trailing.(He stopped over the bridge momentarily to get the switch then proceeded to clear).