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| Name | Prairie Trail - Crystal Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #656 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | McHenry County Conservation District |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 50 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1908 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 656 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 2/27/2022 |
In 1854, the Fox River Valley Railroad (FRV) constructed 36 miles of new railroad line, extending between the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad line at Elgin, Illinois; north to Genoa, Wisconsin. In 1860, the FRV became part of the Elgin & State Line Railroad (E&SL). This railroad was one of a number of branch lines constructed in northeast Illinois during the early years of railroad development. In 1871, an additional nine miles were completed north to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin by the State Line and Union Railroad Company (SL&UR). This railroad became part of the E&SL in 1880, and the E&SL was consolidated into the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1883. The C&NW was beginning to construct and acquire a large network of railroads throughout the Midwest. In 1888, the C&NW funded a subsidiary, the Geneva & State Line Railway Company, to construct an additional 6 miles to Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The railroad would be consolidated into the C&NW in 1889, and the line would not be extended further.
This route served as a branch line for the C&NW, connecting industries in cities along the Fox River. The line also connected to an additional C&NW route at Genoa. The C&NW would become a prominent railroad in the Midwest, eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long. Throughout the 20th Century, the importance of this line diminished. The C&NW would abandon the line between Lake Geneva and Williams Bay in 1966; between Lake Geneva and Ringwood, Illinois in 1982; and between Crystal Lake and Elgin in 1983. In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by Union Pacific Railroad. Today, Union Pacific continues to operate the Crystal Lake to Ringwood portion of the line as the McHenry Subdivision, which serves a couple of industries and commuter service to McHenry as an extension of the Metra Union Pacific-Northwest Line. In addition, the Fox River Trail utilizes the railroad grade between Elgin and Carpentersville; and the Prairie Trail uses and runs parallel to the grade between Carpentersville and the state line.
Located on the north side of Algonquin, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over Crystal Creek. The previous bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In 1908, the current bridge would be constructed. Currently, the bridge consists of a standard 50-foot deck plate girder span, set onto large stone abutments. The superstructure uses a standard design for the C&NW, and numerous examples of this exact design were built throughout the C&NW system. The abutments of the bridge are constructed of Ablesman's Sandstone, quarried near Rock Springs, Wisconsin. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure at their Ambridge Plant, and it is unknown if the substructure was constructed by railroad forces or by an unknown contractor. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads, as it was durable and easy to construct. After abandonment of the railroad, the bridge was reused as part of the Prairie Trail. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Chicago & North Western Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |