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| Name | UP Bridge #46.50 Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #352 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 10 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch Culvert |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1901 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 352 |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 46.50 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 3/13/2022 |
In 1836, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) was charted to construct a railroad line between Chicago and Galena, Illinois. After attempts to construct the railroad in the late 1830s, the company came to a halt due to lack of funds. William B. Ogden was elected director of the G&CU in 1847, and construction on the railroad began in 1848. That year, the first four miles to present day Oak Park were constructed. In 1849, the railroad reached Turner Junction (West Chicago), thirty miles west of downtown Chicago. By the end of 1850, the railroad had reached Elgin, and in 1852, the railroad would reach Rockford. In 1853, the line would be extended to Freeport, Illinois; where it connected to the Illinois Central Railroad. The G&CU realized the company would be better served by constructing a mainline west towards Iowa, and never extended the line past Freeport. In total, the line would be 121 miles in length. The G&CU was consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1864. The C&NW was beginning to construct and acquire a large network of railroads throughout the Midwest. The West Chicago to Freeport line formed a secondary route, connecting industries to Chicago.
Through the 20th Century, this route began to decline in significance. The C&NW would become a
prominent railroad in the midwest, eventually building a system over
11,000 miles long. By the 1970s, industries had closed and passenger traffic disappeared.
In 1981, the C&NW would abandon the segment between Rockford and
Freeport. The right-of-way would be purchased by Commonwealth Edison,
and portions of the line converted to the Pecatonica Prairie Path. In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by the
Union Pacific Railroad. Today, Union Pacific operates the West Chicago to Rockford segment as the Belvidere Subdivision, which mainly serves the Stellanis Plant in Belvidere. Metra service is scheduled to begin to Rockford in 2027, and utilize this line between Elgin and Rockford. West of Rockford, much of the route has become part of the Pecatonica Prairie Path.
Located on the west side of Elgin, this small stone arch culvert carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over an unnamed tributary of Tyler Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1901, the bridge would be reconstructed with the current stone arch culvert. Currently, the bridge consists of a 10-foot stone arch culvert, set onto stone substructures. The arch appears to be a standard C&NW design, using a semicircular shape and traditionally composed wing walls which extend at a 45-degree angle from the structure. The bridge is reportedly constructed of limestone, which was quarried at an unknown location and constructed by an unknown contractor. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen very few modifications. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge 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 |