Rockford once was served by a number of railroads, including a Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) secondary line and a C&NW branch line; an Illinois Central Railroad (IC) mainline, a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line and a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) branch line. Today, the C&NW is owned by Union Pacific Railroad, while the IC and part of the C&NW branch line are owned by Canadian National Railway. CPKC owns the former Milwaukee Road, while Illinois Railway owns the former CB&Q.

Random Bridges

Abandoned S. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

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Abandoned S. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #480)

This large concrete arch bridge once carried the Chicago & North Western Railway over the South Fork of Kent Creek on the west side of Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Commonweath Edison

Status: Abandoned

Built 1918

by

Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
28' concrete arch

Description:
Concrete arch bridge over S. Fork Kent Creek

Significance:

Local

CN S. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

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CN S. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

(Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W-84.4)

This through plate girder bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over the South Fork of Kent Creek near Corbin Street in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian National Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1911

by

Unknown

for

Illinois Central Railroad

Design:
60' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over South Fork Kent Creek

Significance:

Local

CPKC N. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

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CPKC N. Fork Kent Creek Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #E-616)

This standard Pratt pony truss bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway over the North Fork of Kent Creek

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1900

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
105' Pratt pony truss

Description:
Pratt pony truss bridge over North Fork Kent Creek

Significance:

Moderate

Rockford Railroad Crossing (East)

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Rockford Railroad Crossing (East)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #468)

This unique helicoidal skew stone arch bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1882

by

H.T. Smith of Rockford, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
17' helicoidal skew stone arch

Description:
Helicoidal skew stone arch bridge over driveway (former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad)

Significance:

High

Rockford Trail Bridge

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Rockford Trail Bridge

(Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Bridge #23.27)

This large through truss bridge once carried the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad over the Rock River in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: City of Rockford

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1896 and 1929 using spans fabricated 1898

by

King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio

for

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad

Design:
5-150' Pratt through trusses and 2-63' deck plate girders

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Rock River

Significance:

Regional

UP 20th Street Bridge (Rockford)

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UP 20th Street Bridge (Rockford)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #452)

This small through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over 20th Street in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use, Scheduled For Replacement

Built 1896

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
25' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 20th Street

Significance:

Local

UP 9th Street Bridge (Rockford)

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UP 9th Street Bridge (Rockford)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #456)

This through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over 9th Street in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1890

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
41' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 9th Street

Significance:

Local

UP Broadway Bridge (Rockford)

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UP Broadway Bridge (Rockford)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #455)

This through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Broadway in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1917

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-32' through plate girder

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Broadway

Significance:

Local

UP Keith Creek Bridge (Rockford)

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UP Keith Creek Bridge (Rockford)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #457)

This standard deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Keith Creek in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1913

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
50' deck plate girder

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Keith Creek

Significance:

Local

UP Main Street Bridge (Rockford)

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UP Main Street Bridge (Rockford)

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #470)

This unusual through girder and pony truss bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Illinois Route 2 (Main Street) in Rockford

Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1893

by

American Bridge Works of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
73' double intersection Warren pony truss (center track) and 73' through plate girder (outer tracks)

Description:
Pony truss and through girder bridge over Illinois Route 2 (Main Street)

Significance:

Regional