Union Pacific and Milwaukee Trestle

The Northern Pacific and Milwaukee Trestle (High Bridge) Under Construction Heading East, circa 1917

The Union Pacific and Milwaukee Railroad main lines accessed the Kendall Yards from the west via the former Northern Pacific and Milwaukee Trestle. The Trestle, locally known as High Bridge, carried rail traffic east and west of Spokane over the Spokane River, Latah Creek and land which became High Bridge Park from 1881 to the 1970s.

The Kendall Yard round house and yards provided switching operations for heavy rail traffic between Seattle and Minneapolis and communities in Canada and to the south of Spokane.

High Bridge was of iron girder construction, supported by concrete abutments set in the Spokane River bed. The High Bridge was abandoned and demolished in the 1970s.

A number of the bridge girders can be seen beneath the water of the Spokane River from the Sandifur Bridge and the former High Bridge river abutments remain fixed to the riverbed.

Directions to the next stop: High Bridge Park