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| Name | Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #808 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | City of St. Charles |
| Superstructure Contractor | Pennsylvania Steel Company of Steelton, Pennsylvania |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 14 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 5 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1906 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 808 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 4/22/2024 |
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 1871, the St. Charles Railroad (StCR), controlled by the C&NW, constructed a 2.40 mile branch line, extending from the existing mainline at Geneva, Illinois to St. Charles, Illinois. The Fox River Valley offered growing towns and a variety of industries, making it prime for the development of branch lines. The StCR was formally merged into the C&NW in 1881. 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 1951. In 1982, the line would be abandoned, and the right-of-way sold to the cities of St. Charles and Geneva. Today, much of the right-of-way is part of a trail, while much of the line within downtown St. Charles and Geneva has been redeveloped.
Located along Illinois Route 31 south of St. Charles, this small steel stringer bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over an unnamed creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1906, the bridge would be reconstructed with the current structure. The bridge consists of a 14-foot steel stringer span, set onto stone abutments. Pennsylvania Steel Company fabricated the superstructure, and it is unknown if the substructure was constructed by a contractor or by railroad forces. The abutments appear to have been constructed of limestone, quarried at an unknown location. Typical of early 20th Century C&NW steel stringer spans, the superstructure uses six beams, arranged in two sets of three. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Since the abandonment of the railroad, the bridge has carried the Fox River Trail, and is heavily used by pedestrians. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and 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 |