AE&FRE Unnamed Creek Culvert (South)

In the late 19th Century, electric interurban railways became popular throughout the United States, particularly in suburban and rural areas.  During the 1890s, proposals were made to connect cities located in the Fox Valley, some 35 miles west of Chicago, to Chicago by electric railways.  These railways traditionally ran within streets, although often had a dedicated right-of-way outside of urban areas.  Small electric railroads opened lines between Elgin and Carpentersville in 1895; between Elgin and St. Charles in 1896; between Aurora and Geneva in 1899; and between Aurora and Yorkville and Geneva and St. Charles in 1901.  The separate companies would be merged into the Elgin, Aurora & Southern Traction Company in the same year. 

The railroad started in Yorkville, leaving the city along Van Emmon Road.  The route then diverged, following present day IL Route 71 before crossing the Fox River at Washington Street in Oswego.  The route then turned north, sharing a right-of-way with present day IL Route 31 into Montgomery. The line then followed River Street through Montgomery and Aurora, before again following IL Route 31 north of Aurora.  The route continued through North Aurora and Batavia before again diverging, following the west bank of the Fox River south of Geneva.  The route used IL Route 31, State Street and Anderson Boulevard through Geneva, using Anderson Boulevard to reach St. Charles.  At St. Charles, the line again crossed the Fox River at Main Street, before turning north along 5th Avenue.  The route again utilized its own right-of-way, crossing the Fox River at a location known as Five Islands, before continuing through South Elgin and into Elgin along IL Route 31.  At Elgin, the route crossed the Fox River at Chicago Street, and turned north along Dundee Avenue and Duncan Avenue, before again crossing the Fox River at Dundee.  The line continued north along 1st Street and Lincoln Avenue in Dundee, crossing the Fox River at Main Street in Carpentersville.

This company was merged into the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Railroad (AE&C) in 1906; which had constructed an interurban network connecting Chicago to the Fox Valley.  In 1919, the AE&C entered bankruptcy, and the Fox River lines were reorganized as the Aurora, Elgin and Fox River Electric Company.  The railroad would be abandoned in 1935, with an exception of a short stretch from South Elgin to the Elgin Hospital.  This section would be abandoned in 1978.  The remaining portion that was in use would be acquired by the Fox River Trolley Museum, which currently operates a short segment of tracks through South Elgin.  Much of the remainder of the line has been converted to the Fox River Trail, or has been paved over along various streets.