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| Name | CN Bridge #142.9 Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W-142.9 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 13 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1853, Encased 1922 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | W-142.9 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 142.9 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/16/2022 |
In 1851, the State of Illinois authorized the construction of a series
of railroad lines, extending from Cairo, Illinois; located on the Ohio
River, to the Mississippi River at East Dubuque, Illinois and to
Chicago, Illinois. The State awarded the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) with the land necessary
to construct the new lines. Surveys began in 1851, and the first
segments were completed by 1853. The northwestern section connected Freeport, Illinois to East Dubuque, Illinois. Construction was completed on this segment in 1855, and the line would later be extended across Iowa with a bridge over the Mississippi River to Dubuque in 1868. In 1890, the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad (CM&N), a subsidiary of the IC, constructed 102 miles of new railroad between Chicago and Freeport, Illinois; linking Chicago with the IC lines in northern Illinois. This served as an important connection for the IC, improving access to Chicago for the railroad. Due to heavy use, the section from Chicago to Broadview would be double tracked by 1895. The CM&N would be operated under lease by the IC until 1903, when it was consolidated into the IC. In the 20th Century, the IC was a respected railroad, operating an extensive railroad network through the central United States. This line served as a mainline for the IC, connecting lines in Iowa to Chicago. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad
(GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). This line, as well as the entire IC system in Iowa, was sold to the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CC&P) in 1995. In 1988, the ICG
was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1995, the CC&P was repurchased by IC and in 1998, IC was
purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, CN operates the Freeport Subdivision between Broadview and Freeport, and the portion between Freeport and Dubuque is part of the Dubuque Subdivision.
Located along Canyon Park Road east of Apple River, this stone arch carries the former Illinois Central over an unnamed creek. During the initial construction of the Illinois Central, stone arch spans were used where possible. This design provided a permanent construction, and allowed for the railroad to be constructed on a fill instead of a timber bridge. A number of similar stone arch spans of various sizes were constructed along the Illinois Central between 1850 and 1853. This arch consists of a 13-foot stone arch span, set onto stone substructures. Typical of early Illinois Central arches, the structure uses a semicircular arch and rounded wing walls, which are integral to the abutments of the structure. It is unknown where the stone for the bridge was quarried, although it may have been quarried locally. In 1922, the arch would be encased with a 16-inch thick concrete encasement, and the wing walls reconstructed to better hold the embankment. Since then, the bridge has seen little change. Stone arch spans became popular with railroads throughout the United States, as they were durable and easy to construct. Encasing stone arches was often done by the Illinois Central, as it provided a cost effective way to maintain and repair deteriorating stone bridges. This arch, along with several other Illinois Central arches through the state are among the oldest remaining railroad bridges in Illinois. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the heavy alterations to the structure.
Citations
| Build date | Illinois Central Gulf Iowa Division 1973 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |