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| Name | Lake Geneva Railroad Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #721 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | City of Lake Geneva |
| Superstructure Contractor | John J. O'Heron & Company of Chicago, Illinois |
| Length | 40 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track (30 Feet) |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1908 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 721 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/19/2023 |
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 Main Street in Lake Geneva, this large concrete arch bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway line over the White River. The first bridge at this location consisted of a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. While this was considered a branch line, the C&NW did invest in upgrading bridges along this route in the early 20th Century. In September 1908, work was begun on replacing the bridge with a new concrete arch bridge. Preliminary work consisted of placing a temporary iron span and removing the original bridge. The temporary span consisted of a 6-panel, riveted double intersection Warren pony truss span, which was likely fabricated in the early 1880s. It is unknown where this span was reused from, or if it was reused at another location after this bridge was completed. By the middle of November, the arch was completed, and the railroad company completed the fill. Currently, the bridge consists of a 40-foot concrete arch span, set onto concrete substructures and constructed at a width of 30 feet. The bridge uses a standard design, with a semicircular arch and sloped wing walls which extend diagonally from the bridge. John J. O'Heron & Company constructed the bridge, and the railroad completed the filling of the approach embankments. Concrete arch bridges were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since abandonment, a portion of the fill has been removed, and a pedestrian path installed. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with minor spalling noted throughout the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Lake Geneva Regional News; December 3, 1908 |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |