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| Name | UP Thunderbird Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #674 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 8 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch Culvert |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1885 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 672 |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 60.90 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/27/2022 |
In 1854, the Fox River Valley Railroad (FRV) constructed 36 miles of new railroad line, extending between the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad line at Elgin, Illinois; north to Genoa, Wisconsin. In 1860, the FRV became part of the Elgin & State Line Railroad (E&SL). This railroad was one of a number of branch lines constructed in northeast Illinois during the early years of railroad development. In 1871, an additional nine miles were completed north to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin by the State Line and Union Railroad Company (SL&UR). This railroad became part of the E&SL in 1880, and the E&SL was consolidated into the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1883. The C&NW was beginning to construct and acquire a large network of railroads throughout the Midwest. In 1888, the C&NW funded a subsidiary, the Geneva & State Line Railway Company, to construct an additional 6 miles to Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The railroad would be consolidated into the C&NW in 1889, and the line would not be extended further.
This route served as a branch line for the C&NW, connecting industries in cities along the Fox River. The line also connected to an additional C&NW route at Genoa. The C&NW would become a prominent railroad in the Midwest, eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long. Throughout the 20th Century, the importance of this line diminished. The C&NW would abandon the line between Lake Geneva and Williams Bay in 1966; between Lake Geneva and Ringwood, Illinois in 1982; and between Crystal Lake and Elgin in 1983. In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by Union Pacific Railroad. Today, Union Pacific continues to operate the Crystal Lake to Ringwood portion of the line as the McHenry Subdivision, which serves a couple of industries and commuter service to McHenry as an extension of the Metra Union Pacific-Northwest Line. In addition, the Fox River Trail utilizes the railroad grade between Elgin and Carpentersville; and the Prairie Trail uses and runs parallel to the grade between Carpentersville and the state line.
Located near the former station of Terra Cotta north of Crystal Lake, this small stone arch culvert carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Thunderbird Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1885, the bridge would be replaced with the current stone arch culvert. Currently, the culvert consists of a standard 8-foot by 10-foot stone arch culvert, 52 feet wide and set onto stone substructures. Typical of C&NW stone arch culverts, the wing walls extend from the structure at a 30-degree angle, and the arch uses a semicircular shape. The structure is constructed of rubble limestone, quarried at an unknown location. It is unknown if the culvert was constructed by railroad forces, or by an unknown contractor. Since the initial construction, the culvert has been lined with a corrugated metal plate, and masonry repairs made throughout the structure. More recent repairs include additional mortar near the arch lining. Arch culverts such as this were popular with railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. The Prairie Trail, a popular trail in the area, has been constructed along the east face of the culvert. During the construction of the trail, a portion of the wing walls was removed, and a prefabricated pedestrian bridge installed. Overall, the culvert appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this culvert as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Chicago & North Western Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |