logo

CN E. Fork Galena River Bridge #8

Pratt Through Truss over E. Fork Galena River
Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN E. Fork Galena River Bridge #8
Built By Illinois Central Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 180 Feet Total, 117 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (estimated)
Superstructure Type Pratt Through Truss and Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1900, Truss Added 1923
Traffic Count 10 Trains/day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CN Bridge Number 160.6
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date December 2012 and April 2018


Located east of Galena, this large truss bridge is the eighth crossing of the E. Fork Galena River.
Built in 1900 as a through girder and truss bridge, the truss was replaced in 1923 with the current 6-panel riveted Pratt Through Truss. The 1900 through girder spans were retained, and the entire bridge sits on concrete substructures.
Typically, a Warren Truss or large girder would've been used in this relocation during the 1923 rebuild. It is unknown why a riveted Pratt span would've been used.
Today, the bridge is still used by railroad traffic. Little major work has been done to the bridge.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no major deterioration noted.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Illinois Central 1973 track profile
Contractor Missing American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele