The swing span bridge over the Wolf River.

One of the larger river crossings on the Green Bay Route was the Wolf River crossing at Shiocton.  this view is looking to the north.

The original bridge over the river was a 230-foot timber structure which was destroyed when the 57-foot draw span collapsed into the river on September 14, 1889.  The engineer and conductor lost their lives in the tragedy.  A trestle replaced the damaged span for almost ten years until a pier collapse hastened the construction of this 137-foot long plate girder swing span in 1898.  The railroad was also raised four feet at that time.

The bridge rotated on the round masonry pier in the river.  A few years after this photo was taken the timber approach span on the west bank was replaced with a plate girder.  The stone foundations were replaced with concrete at that time, also.  In later years the bridge was reinforced for the heavier Consolidations and Mikados which powered the Green Bay Route.

Thanks goes out to Scott Janz for sharing this postcard.