The BNSF bridge at Granite Falls was part of the Great Northern Railway mainline between Duluth, Minnesota, and Omaha, Nebraska. A century ago, this was a major interchange line for cargo moving between the Great Lakes and the Missouri River basin. The GN merged with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad to form the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1970. The Burlington Northern later merged with the Santa Fe Railway, forming the BNSF.

Maps from 1888 show the competed Great Northern line connecting Willmar to Marshall via Granite Falls while maps from 1887 show the mainline ending at Willmar. This dates the river crossing to 1887. I suspect that the piers are of 1887 vintage, but the bridge has likely been replaced once since it was new in order to accomodate ever heavier railroad locomotives.

The bridge crosses the Minnesota River at an angle heading northwest and southeast. From the southeast side, there is an embankment that carries the rail above the flood plain. Two through truss spans cross the main river channel. This is followed by a length of pony plate girder bridge, and then a third truss span that is again about 135 feet long. That truss is followed by a short section of conventional trestle which completes the remining part of the estimated 800 foot long river crossing.