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| Name | Prairie Trail - North Branch Nippersink Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #704 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 66 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1918 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 704 |
| 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 in Richmond, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over the North Branch of Nippersink Creek. The previous bridge at this location was a timber pile bridge. In 1918, the bridge would be reconstructed with the current structure. Currently, the bridge consists of a 66-foot deck plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The span utilizes a standard design, including deep girders, heavy bracing and a ballast deck. The ballast deck is constructed of precast concrete panels, which appear to be original to the bridge. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while it is unknown if railroad forces or an unknown contractor constructed the substructure. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. Precast deck panels were often used by railroads, as they were easy to install and reduced maintenance required on a steel bridge. After abandonment, railings were added to the bridge, and the bridge now serves as part of the Prairie Trail. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the 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 |
| Builder | Missing American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |