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CN E. Fork Galena River Bridge #9

Pratt Through Truss over E. Fork Galena River
Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois

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Name CN E. Fork Galena River Bridge #9
Built By Illinois Central Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 227 Feet Total, 127' Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 12 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Pratt Through Truss and Concrete T-Beam
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Pile
Date Built 1923
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CN Bridge Number 160.9
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date April 2018


Located east of Galena, this large truss bridge is the ninth crossing of the E. Fork Galena River.
Built in 1923 as a through girder and trestle bridge, the truss consists of a 6-panel riveted Pratt Through Truss. The approach was replaced in 2000, and consists of concrete modular T-girders. The substructures on the bridge consist of concrete.
Typically, a Warren Truss or large girder would've been used in this relocation during the 1923 rebuild. It is unknown why a riveted Pratt span would've been used.
Today, the bridge is still used by railroad traffic. Little major work has been done to the bridge, other than the updates to the approaches.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no major deterioration noted.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Illinois Central 1973 track profile
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele