In Freeport, the line connected to the existing Illinois Central line between Cairo and Iowa. Also in Freeport, the CM&N was building north towards Madison, Wisconsin.
The line was completed by 1890, and became an instant mainline for the Illinois Central. It shortened milage between Iowa and Chicago by nearly 200 miles.
The line also was the fourth into Rockford, which became an important stop for the railroad. In addition, the line bypassed Elgin, but still met with the critical lines heading into Elgin.
The line was double tracked in 1895 between Chicago and Broadview.
The railroad was operated by the Illinois Central, but became a part of it entirely in 1903.
The railroad has seen virtually no changes since it opened. The railroad continues to follow I-55 into Chicago, where it meets up on the south side of Chicago with the mainline towards Centralia.
In 1972, the Illinois Central was renamed the Illinois Central Gulf, after a merger with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad.
By 1988, the line was spun off to a subsidiary named Chicago, Central & Pacific. In 1998, the Illinois Central and subsidiaries were purchased by Canadian National Railway, who currently operates the railroad.
The line is operated as the Freeport Subdivision, which sees a fair amount of traffic.
06/26/21
Located in the South Lawndale north of the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal and along S. Kedzie Avenue, this girder bridge crosses Kedzie Avenue.
Built 1898, the bridge features a simple design, including a single through girder span, set onto concrete encased abutments. An alteration to the floor was made in the 1990s or 2000s, and included a complete reconstruction of the floor.
The bridge was built for two tracks, which it still serves.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with recent rehabilitations.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.