CP/ICE/Milw 1901 Bridge over Mississippi at LaCrescent, MN

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

Dennis Weber posted
A Look @ Freight Cars on CP's Mississippi River Bridge LaCrescent,Mn. 9-2017 CP Train 471.

Originally, it was steam powered. It was converted to electricity in 1952. It is staffed 24/7. [Historic Bridges] It was rebuilt in 1928. The US Coast Guard condemned it in 1998 and ordered that the swing span be replaced with a lift span. So far the replacement has been just talk. This is one of four bridges that island-hops across the Mississippi and Black Rivers between La Crosse, WI and LaCrescent, MN. "La Crosse is one of three places that the Amtrak Empire Builder passenger train crosses the Mississippi River, with the other two being Hastings, MN, and Little Falls, MN." [Weeks]

I'm not exactly sure where this bridge falls for priority. It's a critical line for oil and freight to and from Chicago. However, it depends on who's paying for the replacement (and it probably won't be the railroad). If it's paid for by the coast guard (who is the only ones who want it replaced, due to the navigation channel), it may be a while. It's behind Clinton, Iowa and likely Dubque, Iowa for replacement due to narrow navigation channels. However, the railroad intends to double track the bridges here and further up the river at Hastings within the next few decades, so it may happen then. [Bridge Hunter, Posted September 23, 2015, by John Marvig]

John A. Weeks III

Retro Quad Cities posted
A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of an ice jam against the Crescent Bridge in 1900. What are the chances of finding another one? Here it is!

I found the older post.

Retro Quad Cities posted
Now THAT'S an ice jam! A massive ice jam along the Illinois shore at the Crescent Bridge in 1904.
Tom Sharp: The Dispatch mentions an ice gorge in 1904. They used dynamite to break it up.
[The provided link did not work for me.]

HeavyMovableStructures, Photo 3 in Home Page scroll
[The photo is not identified, but it sure looks like this bridge. Unfortunately, the link I was after, http://www.heavymovablestructures.org/assets/technical_papers/Alteration-of-the-Canadian-Pacific-Railway-Drawbridge.pdf, is broke. Poking around the site quickly comes to "Under Construction" text.]

 

Brian Cazel posted
A CP Rail tie gang works the east end approach, to the LaCrescent, MN swing bridge over the Mississippi River 7-1-20.

I was going to do just a "5 photos" save of this post until I saw the a bow steering towboat.

Mike Yuhas posted five photos with the comment: "Action at the Soo Line railroad bridge, La Crescent, Minn., 16:30-17:05 September 2, 2021!"

1
The deckhand from Mrs. P. has climbed up on the bow of American Beauty's tow with lines (face wires, per the comment below) to secure the assist tug for the maneuver through the Soo Line bridge.
Brandon Phillips: Those are Face wires not lines. Amstel synthetic wires (Kevlar).

2
Mrs. P assists American Beauty's tow south through the Soo Line bridge in La Crescent, Minnesota.

3
This rarely-seen view depicts the Soo Line bridge open for river traffic, and Riverview Tug Service's m/v Mrs. P. assisting Artco's m/v American Beauty downbound.

4
Having assisted American Beauty, Mrs. P. scoots back to Lock 7 to await the next assignment. As soon as Mrs. P. clears, the bridgetender will quickly close the bridge to accommodate a westbound train.

5
For the railfans! CP train 471 slowly crosses the Mississippi River bridge at La Crescent, westbound.

(new window)

(new window) They get to the bridge at about 4:06. It sounds like the private car has a flat wheel.