UP Poplar Creek Bridge (Elgin)

Elgin, Kane County, Illinois

Default pic
Overview
Overview
Overview
Northeast wing wall
South abutment
South span
Overview
North span
North abutment
Southeast wing wall
Arches
Date stamp
Northwest wing wall
New pedestrian underpass south of bridge
Overview
Overview

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Default Pic
Overview
Overview
Overview
Northeast wing wall
South abutment
South span
Overview
North span
North abutment
Southeast wing wall
Arches
Date stamp
Northwest wing wall
New pedestrian underpass south of bridge
Overview
Overview
1/17
Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name UP Poplar Creek Bridge (Elgin)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #332
Built By Galena and Chicago Union Railroad
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 28 Feet Total, 14 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Stone Arch
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1861
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 332
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 40.65
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date 1/26/2022

In 1836, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) was charted to construct a railroad line between Chicago and Galena, Illinois.  After attempts to construct the railroad in the late 1830s, the company came to a halt due to lack of funds.  William B. Ogden was elected director of the G&CU in 1847, and construction on the railroad began in 1848.  That year, the first four miles to present day Oak Park were constructed.  In 1849, the railroad reached Turner Junction (West Chicago), thirty miles west of downtown Chicago.  By the end of 1850, the railroad had reached Elgin, and in 1852, the railroad would reach Rockford.  In 1853, the line would be extended to Freeport, Illinois; where it connected to the Illinois Central Railroad.  The G&CU realized the company would be better served by constructing a mainline west towards Iowa, and never extended the line past Freeport.  In total, the line would be 121 miles in length.  The G&CU was consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1864.  The C&NW was beginning to construct and acquire a large network of railroads throughout the Midwest.  The West Chicago to Freeport line formed a secondary route, connecting industries to Chicago.

Through the 20th Century, this route began to decline in significance.  The C&NW would become a prominent railroad in the midwest, eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long.  By the 1970s, industries had closed and passenger traffic disappeared.  In 1981, the C&NW would abandon the segment between Rockford and Freeport.  The right-of-way would be purchased by Commonwealth Edison, and portions of the line converted to the Pecatonica Prairie Path.  In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad.  Today, Union Pacific operates the West Chicago to Rockford segment as the Belvidere Subdivision, which mainly serves the Stellanis Plant in Belvidere.  Metra service is scheduled to begin to Rockford in 2027, and utilize this line between Elgin and Rockford.  West of Rockford, much of the route has become part of the Pecatonica Prairie Path. 

Located on the south side of Elgin, this historic stone arch bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Poplar Creek. The first bridge at this location was a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was built. In 1861, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad reportedly authorized construction of the current bridge to replace the trestle. The bridge consists of two 14-foot stone arch spans, set onto stone substructures. The arches of the bridge are relatively tall, and consist of semicircular arches set onto tall piers and abutments. Wing walls of the structure extend at a 45-degree angle, a typical design for bridges of this design. Stone arches became popular for railroad use in the mid-19th Century, as they were durable, easy to construct and could often be constructed with locally sourced stone. It is currently unknown where the stone for the bridge was sourced from, although the G&CU used stone quarried along the Des Plaines River at other bridges. Since the initial construction, the bridge has remained largely unchanged. Concrete reinforcement was added to the base of the abutments in the early 20th Century. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with little serious deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the age and design.

Citations

Build date Date carving
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele