Click the photo to view the full-size version
| Name | C&NW North Branch Nippersink Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #G-661 1/2 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Private Owner |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 80 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1911 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | G-661 1/2 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 3/2/2024 |
Between 1859 and 1862, the Kenosha, Rockford & Rock Island Railroad (KR&RI) constructed a 72-mile railroad line, extending from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Rockford, Illinois; via Harvard, Illinois. The railroad became part of 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. Known as the K-D line, this line provided a direct connection between the Milwaukee Division mainline at Kenosha and Rockford. The C&NW would become a prominent railroad in the Midwest,
eventually building a system over 11,000 miles long. Early in the 20th Century, this line lost importance, and was operated as little more than a branch line. The line would be abandoned from Harlem to Caledonia in 1937, followed by Bain to Bassett in 1939. The line from Genoa City to Bassett was abandoned in 1962, followed by Genoa City to Hebron in 1965. The portion of the line between Chemung and Caledonia would be abandoned in 1988. The C&NW was purchased by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. Today, UP continues to operate three short portions of this line, including between Kenosha and Bain; as well as Harvard to Chemung and a short segment in Rockford. Portions of the line between Chemung and Caledonia have become part of the Long Prairie Trail.
Located in Genoa City, this large deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway "KD" Line over the North Branch of Nippersink Creek. The first bridge at this location likely consisted of a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. In 1911, the timber bridge would be replaced by the present deck plate girder bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of an 80-foot deck plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The superstructure uses a standard design, with heavy plate girders and an open deck. The substructures also use a standard design, with sloped wing walls. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown company constructed the abutments. Deck plate girder bridges were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations. Currently, the deck has been removed and the bridge is abandoned. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with spalling and section loss throughout the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Chicago & North Western Railway Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |