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| Name | Genoa Interurban Crossing Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W61.7 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 20 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Encased Beam |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1910 |
| Traffic Count | 10 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | W61.7 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 61.7 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/24/2024 |
In 1851, the State of Illinois authorized the construction of a series
of railroad lines, extending from Cairo, Illinois; located on the Ohio
River, to the Mississippi River at East Dubuque, Illinois and to
Chicago, Illinois. The State awarded the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) with the land necessary
to construct the new lines. Surveys began in 1851, and the first
segments were completed by 1853. The northwestern section connected Freeport, Illinois to East Dubuque, Illinois. Construction was completed on this segment in 1855, and the line would later be extended across Iowa with a bridge over the Mississippi River to Dubuque in 1868. In 1890, the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad (CM&N), a subsidiary of the IC, constructed 102 miles of new railroad between Chicago and Freeport, Illinois; linking Chicago with the IC lines in northern Illinois. This served as an important connection for the IC, improving access to Chicago for the railroad. Due to heavy use, the section from Chicago to Broadview would be double tracked by 1895. The CM&N would be operated under lease by the IC until 1903, when it was consolidated into the IC. In the 20th Century, the IC was a respected railroad, operating an extensive railroad network through the central United States. This line served as a mainline for the IC, connecting lines in Iowa to Chicago. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad
(GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). This line, as well as the entire IC system in Iowa, was sold to the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CC&P) in 1995. In 1988, the ICG
was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1995, the CC&P was repurchased by IC and in 1998, IC was
purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, CN operates the Freeport Subdivision between Broadview and Freeport, and the portion between Freeport and Dubuque is part of the Dubuque Subdivision.
Located in Genoa, this small concrete bridge once carried the Illinois Central Railroad over the Woodstock & Sycamore Traction Company (W&S), one of several small interurban lines in the area. In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, a number of electrified railroads, known as interurbans, were constructed throughout the Midwest. The W&S was incorporated in 1907, and construction began in 1908. The line was completed to Genoa in 1910, and was extended to Marengo in 1932. At Genoa, the route was required to zig-zag throughout the city, as the IC and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road) would not let the company cross at grade. A small concrete underpass was constructed to cross under the IC, and a pony truss viaduct was constructed to cross the Milwaukee Road. Like many interurbans throughout the United States, the company was often in financial trouble, and the line was pulled up for scrap in 1918.
Built in 1910, the bridge consists of a 20-foot concrete encased beam bridge, set onto concrete substructures. The bridge utilizes wing walls, which are perpendicular to the railroad tracks. This design of bridge became popular with several railroads during the 20th Century, as it provided benefits of both a concrete slab and a steel stringer span. It is unknown which contractor may have constructed this bridge, and the abutments do not appear to be a standard IC design. After the W&S was removed, the bridge crossed a private farm entrance and later a driveway. A housing development was constructed west of the bridge in the late 1980s, and a sidewalk was installed under the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, and has relatively little spalling. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |