Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #843 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Forest Preserve District of Kane County |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 9 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 5 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Stone Arch Culvert |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1882 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 843 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/17/2022 |
In the early 1870s, the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW)
was beginning to construct and acquire a large railroad network
throughout the Midwest. In 1872, the C&NW constructed a 3.2 mile branch line south from the mainline at Geneva to Batavia, Illinois. In 1883, the line would be extended another 6.2 miles into Aurora. The Fox River Valley offered growing towns and a variety of
industries, making it prime for the development of branch lines. The line entered Aurora along the west bank of the Fox River, serving a variety of industries. The C&NW would
become a prominent railroad in the Midwest,
eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long. Passenger service
over this line ceased in approximately 1935. In 1982, the line would be
abandoned, and the right-of-way acquired for trail use. Today, much of the right-of-way south of Fabyan Parkway is part of the Fox River Trail. North of Fabyan Parkway, the much of the grade remains abandoned.
Located north of North Aurora, this small stone arch culvert carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over an unnamed creek. During construction of the extension of this line to Aurora, the railroad placed significance on using stone structures instead of wood. Stone culverts were far more durable, and could be constructed for competitive prices. This structure was built in 1882, and consists of a 9-foot stone arch culvert, set onto stone substructures. The arch uses a standard Chicago & North Western design, including a semicircular opening and wing walls extending diagonally from the structure. It is currently unknown if the culvert was completed by a contractor, or if it was constructed by railroad forces. Stone arch culverts such as this were extremely popular with railroads during the late 19th Century, as they were durable, easy to construct and were relatively inexpensive. Since the railroad line was abandoned, the culvert has carried the Fox River Trail. Overall, the culvert appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the 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 |