Amtrak train crosses Mississippi River Bridge at Hastings, MN, Notice the Milwaukee Road Logo still in place over 20 years after the company was dissolved.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and
Pacific used this bridge on their mainline from Chicago. This brought the line back to the east side of the river to enter St. Paul. The St. Paul and Chicago (part of the Milwaukee Road) opened the crossing here on December 9, 1871. The Milwaukee Road was the first railroad from Chicago to the Twin Cities with a route through Iowa completed four years earlier, and this bridge was part of a shorter route using the Winona and St. Peter Railroad. This is one of three lift spans over the river.