Location: Brule River Bridge, Iron County, MI

The was the bridge of the Chicago & Northwestern Iron River Branch over the Brule River, crossing northbound from Wisconsin to Michigan.

Notes

Time Line

1909. July 24. One of the worst wrecks in the history of the Menominee River branch of the North-Western occurred at the Brule River bridge last Wednesday evening about six o'clock. The east end of the bridge was totally demolished so that passage was impossible. All trains were rerouted via the St. Paul between Iron Mountain and Crystal Falls. The accident was caused by the breaking of a wheel of a eastbound ore car and dragging the car across the bridge tearing up the ties and girders. The cars followed it into the river.

The train had 45 car loads of Bristol mine ore and was hurrying along under orders as a second section was following. The bridge had always been an eye sore to railroaders because of the very sharp curves on the Stager side and the steep grade on the Florence side.

Passage over the bridge was barred. Eastbound North-Western passenger trains were run around over the St, Paul from Crystal Falls to Iron Mountain. The first train to run that was was Thursday morning. A second westbound train, No. 15, the main line train from Chicago, met him at Great Western (mine) Junction and then proceeded through Crystal Falls, and went on to Ashland (via Stager).

Upon inspection, the iron bridge span stood the impact and was wholly intact, although somewhat battered. The eastbound approach from Stager was not injured. The westbound approach was entirely wrecked and had to be rebuilt.

The brakeman who first reported the wreck jumped from the caboose as the cars were tumbling off the bridge. He became very excited but intuitively grabbed the flag and his hat when he struck the ground he didn't stop to see how bad the wreck was but started on a run for Stager. The distance is about three miles and he covered it in less than 15 minutes. Rushing into the Stager depot he gasped out "the train is in the river" and then fell exhausted upon the floor saying "throw some water on me". He didn't know if anyone was injured or if the engine was in the river as well as the ore cars. He was the first to send in a report but soon afterwards the engine, which had been detached from the train, arrived at Florence and particulars were told.

All ore traffic from the west side of Iron County and from the Hemlock (Amasa) were suspended and the mines went to stocking ore. The local mines were turned over to the Milwaukee (CMStP&P) and Tim Murphy had his engines helping serve the mines with the St. Paul cars during the night. [DD-1909-0724]