CPKC Stillman Creek Bridge (East)

Name	CPKC Stillman Creek Bridge (East) Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #Z-302
Built By	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
Currently Owned By	Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
Superstructure Contractor	Worden-Allen Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Length	110 Feet Total, 55 Foot Spans
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design	Stone Masonry, Concrete and Steel Pile
Date Built	1947, Reconstructed 2005
Traffic Count	10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	In Use
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge Number	Z-302
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	4/20/2019; 3/19/2023

In 1872, the Chicago and Pacific Railroad was charted to construct a new 88-mile railroad line extending from Chicago, Illinois to Byron, Illinois. Construction began on the line in 1873, and the line was completed to Elgin in 1874, followed by to Byron in 1876. In Chicago, the railroad crossed the Chicago River three times, crossed Goose Island and turned west along Bloomingdale Avenue. In 1880, the railroad came under lease of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, commonly known as the Milwaukee Road. The Milwaukee Road continued construction, reaching Kittredge, Illinois in 1882. At Kittredge, this line connected to a line that had been completed to Savanna, Illinois by the Northern Illinois Railroad in 1862. This line became a principal mainline for the Milwaukee Road, later extending across Iowa to reach Omaha. Because of the importance of this line, the portion of the line west of Bloomingdale Avenue in Chicago to Bensenville was double tracked in 1885. In 1892, construction on a second track began between Bensenville and Genoa, which would be completed in 1897. By 1899, the line was double tracked to Savanna.

By the 20th Century, the Milwaukee Road had become a prominent railroad in the United States, operating a network of railroad lines primarily in the Midwest. The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. This line continued to serve as a critical mainline for the railroad during the 20th Century, as it provided a connection between Chicago and the mainlines to Omaha and Kansas City. Significant upgrades were made during the 1930s and 1940s, including replacing bridges and revising curves. During the 1970s, conditions of the line gradually deteriorated, and much of the second track was removed in the late 1970s.

Portions of the line in Chicago were removed in the late 1970s. By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986. In 1997, CP would sell the line segment to I&M Rail Link, which was purchased by the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E) subsidiary Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E). Portions of the Bloomingdale Line between Pacific Junction and the Kennedy Expressway were abandoned in 2001. Chicago Transfer Railway (CTR) began operations around Goose Island in 2007, using former Milwaukee Road trackage. The DM&E/IC&E were purchased by Canadian Pacific in 2008. The CTR trackage was abandoned in 2018. CP merged with Kansas City Southern Railway in 2023 to form CPKC. Today, CPKC operates the Elgin Subdivision between Pacific Junction and Randall Road in Elgin; and the Chicago Subdivision between Elgin and Savanna. In addition, Metra operates commuter service as the Milwaukee West line over the Elgin Subdivision.

Located on the east side of Stillman Valley, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Milwaukee Road mainline over Stillman Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. Most bridges along this route were replaced by permanent steel structures in the 1880s and 1890s, and it is believed the timber bridge was replaced at that time. In 1898, the Milwaukee Road would double track this route, and a new steel deck girder bridge constructed. This bridge was again replaced in 1947 by a similar structure. In 2005, the substructures were reconstructed, and a new pier built. Currently, the bridge consists of two 55-foot deck plate girder spans, set onto stone and concrete abutments, and a steel pile pier. The spans are typical of mid-20th Century girder spans, with heavy plate girders and lateral bracing. Worden-Allen Company fabricated the superstructure, and it is believed that all components of the substructure were constructed by railroad company forces. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable, economical and easy to construct. The southern track of the bridge was removed in the 1980s, and it is unknown if it was reused elsewhere. Since the 2005 reconstruction, the bridge has remained largely unchanged. 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 common design and newer age.

Builder and build date	Milwaukee Road Archives - Industrial Department Records - located at the Milwaukee Public Library
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

CPKC Stillman Creek Bridge (East)

Stillman Valley, Ogle County, Illinois