BNSF Rock Creek Bridge (Erie)

Name	BNSF Rock Creek Bridge (Erie) Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #21.89
Built By	Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Currently Owned By	BNSF Railway
Superstructure Contractor	King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio
Length	166 Feet Total, 86 Foot Main Span
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design	Concrete
Date Built	1904
Traffic Count	20 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status	In Use
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Bridge Number	21.89
BNSF Railway Bridge Number	65.32
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	4/13/2024

In 1868, the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad Company (RRI&StL) began construction on 40 miles of new railroad, extending from Agnew, immediately west of Sterling, Illinois; to East Moline, Illinois. The new railroad line would be completed in 1870. The railroad was consolidated into the St. Louis, Rock Island & Chicago Railway (StLRI&C) in 1876. The StLRI&C was operated under lease of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). The CB&Q was beginning to construct an extensive network of railroad lines, extending westwards from Chicago. The StLRI&C was merged into the CB&Q in 1899. This line was one of a number of secondary lines constructed in western Illinois during the 1870s. The line mainly served to connect industries at Sterling with the larger hub of the Quad Cities. In 1970, the CB&Q was merged with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Great Northern Railway to form Burlington Northern Railroad (BN). The segment between Sterling and Lyndon would be abandoned in 1985. In 1996, BN merged with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway. The remaining portion of this line is operated as the middle portion of the Barstow Subdivision.

Located along Moline Road east of Erie, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad over Rock Creek. The previous bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1904, the bridge would be reconstructed with the current steel and concrete bridge. The bridge consists of an 86-foot through plate girder span, flanked by a 40-foot through plate girder span on either side. The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures, which had been constructed in 1903 in preparation for this bridge. King Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, and it is believed that railroad company forces constructed the substructures. The girder spans use a standard CB&Q design, with a traditionally composed floor and square ends. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, it appears there have been few, if any, changes to the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Builder and build date	King Bridge Company plaque
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

BNSF Rock Creek Bridge (Erie)

Erie, Whiteside County, Illinois