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| Name | CN Kishwaukee River Bridge Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W-78.3 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Ryan & McDonald of Baltimore, Maryland |
| Length | 300 Feet Total, 150 Foot Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Pratt Through Truss |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
| Date Built | 1904 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | W-78.3 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 78.3 |
| Significance | Moderate Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/20/2019 |
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 south of Cherry Valley, this through truss bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over the Kishwaukee River. The first bridge at this location was likely a lighter through truss span, constructed when the line was built. This bridge consisted of two 150-foot through truss spans, set onto stone substructures. Ryan & McDonald completed the stone abutments for the original bridge. In 1904, the bridge would be replaced with the current structure. The bridge consists of two 150-foot, 6-panel, pin-connected Pratt through truss spans, set onto the stone substructures from the previous bridge. During the reconstruction of the bridge, the original pier and portions of the abutments were encased in concrete. American Bridge Company fabricated the truss spans, while the abutments were likely rebuilt by railroad company forces. The trusses utilize a typical IC design, including built-up members and a square portal consisting of four bays and lattice bracing. This type of truss was standard for the IC during the early years of the 20th Century, as the design was simple, durable and easy to construct. The lower chord of the truss utilizes a combination of built-up beams and eyebars, and the tension members of the bridge utilize solid bars. While most railroads began to switch to riveted spans in the early 20th Century, IC appears to have continued using pin connected spans until after 1905. A number of repairs have been made to the structure, including the replacement of the lower lateral bracing in the 2010s. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Illinois Central Railroad Valuation Engineering Field Notes at the National Archives |
| Builder (substructure) | Engineering News; November 5, 1887 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |