- 1836: Galena and Chicago Union Railroad charted between Chicago and Galena, Illinois
- 1848: 10 miles completed from Chicago to Oak Park, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1849: 20 miles completed from Oak Park to West Chicago, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1854: 68 miles completed from West Chicago to Dixon, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1855: 39 miles completed from Dixon to East Clinton, Illinois by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
- 1855: 10 miles double tracked from Chicago to Oak Park
- 1856: 20 miles double tracked from Oak Park to West Chicago
- 1864: G&CU consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1884: 15 miles double tracked from West Chicago to Elburn
- 1889: Remainder of line double tracked from Elburn to East Clinton
- 1893-95: Track elevated from Sacramento Boulevard to 40th Street (Pulaski Road)
- 1905: Track elevated from Ashland Avenue to Sacramento Boulevard
- 1908-13: Track elevated from Pulaski Road to Thatcher Avenue River Forest and additional tracks built
- 1909-11: Track realigned, elevated and expanded for new Chicago Terminal
- 1910: 13 mile bypass of Dixon completed by the Lee County Railway Company
- 1910: C&NW purchases the Lee County Railway Company
- 1995: Chicago & North Western purchased by Union Pacific Railroad
- 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the Geneva Subdivision from Chicago to East Clinton
- 2006-Present: Metra operates the Union Pacific West Line between Elburn and Chicago
07/17/21
Located in the town of Winfield, this large stone arch bridge crosses the W. Branch of the DuPage River.
The first segment of the bridge was built in 1863 to replace an older trestle, and featured a pair of spans. An addition was made in 1895 for a second track, and again in 1905 for a third track.
In 2019, the bridge remains virtually unchanged since the 1905 construction. The northern face is the 1905 face, and it is believed that the southern face is the 1863 face.
The only alteration to the bridge was the encasement of the lower walls. Other than that, the bridge still serves three tracks.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the older age.
The photo above is an overview.
| Upstream | W. Branch DuPage River Trail Bridge |
| Downstream | Burlington Park Rail Bridge |