THE GREAT NORTHERN BRIDGE

During the winter of 1880-81, a second railroad reached the Red River and had a significant effect on Moorhead and Fargo. James J. Hill’s St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba gave the Northern Pacific immediate competition by building branch lines in all directions throughout the Red River Valley. This system linked several smaller communities and made Fargo-Moorhead a key transportation hub. The St. P., M. & M. became the Great Northern in 1889. Today it’s the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe. Notice the iron-clad timber barrier built to protect the bridge from spring ice damage.