The Winona and Southwestern Railway train is pictured moving over a trestle bridge on it's way from Spring Valley to Winona. In 1890, tracks were laid from Winona through St. Charles, Dover, Eyota, Simpson and Stewartville to Spring Valley and Osage. The railroad became the Winona & Western in 1894. A spur was built in 1900 from Simpson to Rochester. In 1901, the Winona & Western line was sold to the Chicago Great Western Railroad.
This photograph shows the original wooden Winona and St. Peter Railroad bridge near the St. Peter State Hospital. The view appears to be toward the community of Kasota in Le Sueur County. This bridge was replaced by an iron bridge in 1879.
This view of the original Winona and St. Peter Railroad bridge over the Minnesota River that was completed in 1871 appears to look toward Kasota from a location near the St. Peter State Hospital. The bridge was replaced about 1879 by a metal one. Some of the stone supports for the new bridge can be seen to the right of the wooden bridge.