1911 CN/WC/Soo/WC Arcola High Bridges over St. Croix River

(Bridge Hunter, Historic Bridges, John Weeks III, Satellite)

The "wwMiss" label is approximate. This bridge is actually over the St. Croix River.

John Weeks III

They are using cantilever bridge techniques to build the arch allows them to keep falsework out of the navigation channel.

Photo from Bridge Hunter, Public Domain: Published Prior to 1923

John Boots posted
Phil De Franco: Phoenix Bridge Company, located in Phoenixville PA for many years, had a large erecting yard near Phoenix Steel Company, and each bridge was pre-assembled in the yard to make sure everyhting fit just right prior to shipment. Their company motto was "Without fitting, filing or chipping" because each bridge was designed to be assembled on site like a giant Erector set.
Phoenix Bridge went out of business in 1962 and Phoenix Steel followed in 1988.

 

MNRails Productions posted
The Soo Line High Bridge also known as the Arcola High Bridge, is a steel deck arch bridge over the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota and Somerset, Wisconsin. It was designed by structural engineer C.A.P. Turner and built by the American Bridge Company from 1910 to 1911. Today a late CN L506 with two EMD SD60's: CN 5429 and CN 5428 cross the 2,682 foot [817m] long bridge and 184 foot [56m] above the river.
Craig A Tator: Used twice a day.

 

Joe Fishbein posted

Built in 1911 by the Wisconsin Central Railway (later, the Soo Line), the Arcola High Bridge spans the St. Croix River between Wisconsin and Minnesota.  It replaced a lower-level bridge that required steep grades on the approaches (Piers of this former bridge are still present in the St. Croix River). It is currently in service and owned by the Canadian National.
My photo, October 2019.

Jordan Palmer posted two photos with the comment:

Wisconsin Central Bridge at Arcola, Minnesota then and now. Built in 1884 by Union Bridge and Iron Works it was part of WCs route from Chippewa Falls to St. Paul. The original bridge was removed on February 28 1916 following replacement with the Arcola Highbridge completed in 1909. First photo is from Minnesota Historical Society, second one is mine from several years ago.

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John A. Weeks
"The photo is a public domain image that dates back to the first decade of the 1900s."

Harvey Henkelmann commented on Jordan's posting
And here is it's famous replacement

Digitized by Google

Jordan Palmer posted two photos with the comment:

Couple more shots of my favorite bridge, the Arcola High Bridge, aka the Soo Line or Wisconsin Central Higbridge. The bridge stands roughly 185 feet above the St Croix River below at normal water level, and has five arches each roughly 300' long, plus approach trestles on each side stretching the bridge to nearly 1/2mile total length. The first photo is from a river trip nine or ten years ago now, and the second is from September of last year when I was finally able to catch a train rumbling across it. The Arcola High Bridge is now nearly 110 years old, and replaced the original Arcola crossing just down river 3/4mile that was built in the 1880s removing the long steep grades on both sides of the river as the original bridge was only about 70' above the river.

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Jordan Palmer commented on his posting
One of my winter shots from few years ago.

Jordan Palmer commented on his posting
And a shot from bout 1/2 mile or so south bout five years ago.

MNRails Productions posted
The Soo Line High Bridge also known as the Arcola High Bridge, is a steel deck arch bridge over the St. Croix River between Stillwater, Minnesota and Somerset, Wisconsin. It was designed by structural engineer C.A.P. Turner and built by the American Bridge Company from 1910 to 1911. Today [Oct 9, 2023], a late CN L517 with two EMD SD60's: CN 5429 and CN 5428 cross the 2,682 foot long bridge and 184 foot above the river.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/schristie/53243837967
Ted Hazelton shared

A better exposure of the construction photo:

Digitized by Google

Digitized by Google, p 609

Digitized by Google, p 610

John boots posted
The Soo High Bridge north of Stillwater Mn. Awesome structure and best picture I’ve seen.

Jordan Palmer commented on John's post
One of my favorite bridges, I was finally able to capture shots of a train crossing it in September of last year.

Alan Ardanowski commented on John's post
Alan Ardanowski I think this is one of the hinges referenced in the above [Historic Bridges link]:Bart Culbertson Alan Ardanowski yes it is, also another term would be a pin connection.

Chip Holk posted
Train crossing the Soo Line Railroad bridge, over the St. Croix River. Washington County. 06/06/1921 (MNHS)

Tim Weinberg, Oct 2017

Leo Walding posted
This is the Arcola High Bridge between Arcola MN and Somerset, WI used by CN (x-Soo). spanning the St. Croix River. The St Croix river was a major logging river back in the late 1800's.
Jordan Palmer Hey that's one of my photos of the old Soo Line/Arcola Bridge haha! Where'd you find it?

Jordan Palmer posted three photos with the comment: "Not able to catch the train today, but snapped a couple dusk shots at the Arcola Highbridge, aka Soo Line or Wisconsin Central Higbridge, over the St Croix River north of Stillwater, Minnesota."

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Jordan Palmer posted two photos with the comment: "Last Sunday April 19th, the Canadian National’s daily eastbound crossing the old Wisconsin Central or Arcola Highbridge, over the St Croix River north of Stillwater, Minnesota."

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Jordan commented on his post
Stone footings from the original crossing about 1/2 mile south of the Highbridge. The original bridge was removed in early 1916.

Mark Kipper posted ten photos with the comment: "CN bridge over St. Croix River."
Daniel Harcourt Been over it many times no brakes allowed on the bridge per the rules.

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Chris Vierling posted five photos with the comment: "The old and the new (well newer). Old train bridge pillars and the replacement bridge along the St Croix River between MN & WI just north of Stillwater."

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Jordan Palmer posted a YouTube video link of an eastbound train.