BNSF Walnut Creek Bridge (Altona)

In 1852 and 1853, the Aurora Branch Railroad of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad would construct a 46 miles of new railroad extending from Aurora, Illinois to Mendota, Illinois.  The railroad would be reorganized as the Chicago and Aurora Railroad Company in 1852, and again as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) in 1855.  Between 1852 and 1854, the Central Military Tract Railroad Company (CMT) would construct 79 miles from Mendota to Galesburg, Illinois.  The CMT would be absorbed into the CB&Q the following year.  This route quickly became the principal mainline of the CB&Q, providing a connection to the Mississippi River at Quincy.  Both Aurora and Galesburg would quickly become prominent railroad cities, with extensive facilities serving the CB&Q.  Because of the heavy traffic served by the line, the railroad would be double tracked beginning in the 1860s.  In 1868, a second track was added between Aurora and Bristol, and between Earlville and Mendota.  Between Bristol and Earlville, the line would be double tracked in 1872.  In 1877, the line was double tracked from Malden to Princeton and near Galeesburg; from Arlington to Malden would be double tracked in 1878; and the segments between Mendota and Arlington and Buda and Wyanet would be double tracked in 1880.  The segment between Buda and Galesburg would be double tracked in 1886, and the segment between Princeton and Wyanet was double tracked in 1899.  Throughout the 20th Century, the line continued to serve as the principal mainline of the CB&Q.  In 1970, the CB&Q was merged with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN).  In 1996, BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway.  BNSF currently operates the line as the Mendota Subdivision, and it remains a critical line within the BNSF system.