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BNSF Bridge #204.15

Stone and Concrete Arch Bridge over Unnamed Creek
Media, Henderson County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Bridge #204.15
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 12 Feet Total
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Stone Arch and Concrete Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built 1901, Extended 1928
Traffic Count 75 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 204.15
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2017
In 1873, the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad constructed a line from Streator, Illinois to Ancona, Illinois, a short distance.
The line would be extended to Pequot in 1876. By 1881, the railroad would become part of the Chicago, St. Louis and Western Railroad.
By 1885, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway would purchase the C&StL as part of a project to connect Kansas City to Chicago.
It would be merged into the subsidiary Chicago, Santa Fe and California Railway.

The line would be extended to Chicago by 1885, using the B&O Depot.
In 1888, the line would be extended from Ancona to Fort Madison, Iowa. This also included a new crossing of the Mississippi River at Fort Madison; and crossing of the Illinois River at Chillicothe.

In 1900, the subsidiary was fully merged into the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. The ATSF system expanded to the west and southwest United States.
Between 1905 and 1911, the line would be double tracked from Chicago heading westward. The new line was important for freight heading from Iowa and Missouri to Chicago.

While the line provided a solid freight base, ATSF began to struggle. Through the era of mergers, there were a few attempted mergers.
Finally, the line merged with Burlington Northern Railway to form BNSF Railway in 1996. Today, this line is owned by BNSF and known as the Chillicothe Subdivision.
07/17/21


Located in Media, this stone arch bridge crosses an unnamed creek near the east edge of town.
Originally built in 1900 as a single track stone arch, it was widened in 1926 for a second track with a concrete arch. At this time, the stone portion was encased in concrete.
Unfortunately, there is no visible evidence of the stonework on this bridge.
This bridge currently crosses a cattlepass.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1937 Bridge Book
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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