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| Name | Prairie Trail - Fox River Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #655 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | McHenry County Conservation District |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 225 Feet Total, 75 Foot Main Spans |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Stone Masonry |
| Date Built | 1891 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic) |
| Current Status | Open to Pedestrian Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 655 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 7/31/2015; 4/10/2022 |
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 in Algonquin, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over the Fox River. The first bridges at this location were likely wooden truss bridges, dating to the 1850s. In 1891, the current bridge would be constructed. Currently, the bridge consists of three 75-foot deck plate girder spans, set onto stone substructures. The deck plate girder spans utilize a standard design, and are rather heavy for the age. The stone piers utilize an angular design, and have been reinforced with steel plates to help deflect ice. Lassig Bridge & Iron Works fabricated the superstructure of the bridge, and an unknown contractor constructed the substructures. Lassig Bridge & Iron Works fabricated a majority of steel bridges for the C&NW in the 1890s, due to their location along the C&NW mainline in Chicago. Deck plate girder spans were popular with railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. This design became popular in the 1890s as a stronger alternative to truss spans. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen little alterations, and has since been 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 the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Chicago & North Western Valuation Notes at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Builder | Missing Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |