Trail/IR/(CB&Q+Milwaukee Bridge) over Rock River in Rockford, IL

(Bridge Hunter, 3D Satellite)

This bridge was finally converted to trail use in 2016. This is my favorite Bridge Hunter photo because it catches part of the Fordham Dam as well as all five truss spans of the bridge.

William Shapotkin posted
We are in Rockford, IL as a N/B MILW frt (operating on BN (CB&Q) trackage) x/o the Rock River. The bridge remains today, but alas the trks have been removed and trains no longer operate over it. Photos dated Sept 1, 1977. John Kamacher Photos/Wm Shapotkin Collection.

William Shapotkin posted [He included a couple more photos in this post.]

Brian Keith Landis posted
Rock River
Brenda Wilcox Yeah the Belvidere Park was flooded again with this last rain.
[During the heavy rains of 2017. Looking downstream from the west side of the bridge, which is just downstream of the dam.]

C&WI 16th Street Interlocking

(no CRJ, Satellite (no trace of where this tower was is left because the C&WI tracks have been filled in to remove the embankments when they made Ping Tom Memorial Park))
NorthAmericanInterlockings: photo
Chicago and Northern Indiana Railroad Interlocking Towers: looking northeast    looking south

The 16th Street Tower was part of C&WI's route between 21st Street Crossing and Roosevelt Road, which was the route to Dearborn Station.

Dave Durham posted

John Smatlak shared his Flickr link in Chicago Area Railroad Historians
The abandoned C&WI tower next to the 16th St. interlocking, Summer of 1986. This tower was situated on the lead to the old Dearborn Station.

Dave Durham posted
Bob Lalich In later years the towers north and south of the NYC/Rock Island viaduct were called 15th St and 16th St respectively.

Mark Llanuza posted two photos with the comment: "At 16th st tower this is where the Erie came into Dearborn station. By 1983 most of all the rails were rusted and Dearborn was removed only this section going under the Rock Island remained."
Mark posted again

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[Note the signaling pipelines running to the north of the tower.]

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Dave Arganbright posted
The approach to Dearborn Station, Chicago, in 1983. My photo.
Jeff Blocker WHERE??
Dennis DeBruler This was Chicago & Western Indiana's 16th Street Tower. It was in the middle of what is now Ping Tom Memorial Park. The C&WI is now gone because it was the terminal railroad for the Dearborn Station. It was owned by five railroads: C&EI, GTW, Wabash, Erie, and Monon.
https://www.google.com/.../@41.8600055,-87.../data=!3m1!1e3

MWRD posted
A view to the south from 16th Street showing work on railroad tracks near the South Branch of the Chicago River on September 15, 1905.
Dennis DeBruler: Photos of C&WI's 16th Street Tower are rather rare.

Barriger

The tower cropped out of the max resolution image of the above photo

Paul Petraitis posted
11am 9/23/1905, Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Ean Kahn-Treras We are looking off of 18th Street in this view. The elevated track is the IC iowa division curving for their crossing of the RI at 16th Street.
Bob Lalich The bridge seen here is the SCAL swing bridge. 16th St Tower can be seen in the distance.

MWRD posted
The South Branch of the Chicago River and the railyard for the Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad on September 13, 1905, viewed looking north from 18th Street.
chicago and western indiana railroad: Looking further, you can see 16th street tower
William Shapotkin: chicago and western indiana railroad Yes, but do not believe it was the 16th St Tower you and I knew -- as at the time of this photo, believe we would ber looking at a grade-level xing with the St Charles Air Line. Might anyone else want to weigh in on that?

Dennis DeBruler commented on William's comment
It may have been the same. It is building 135 on this map, and there is some room between it and the St Charles Air Line to build an embankment.

One of the things that makes learning Chicago railroads challenging is that different railroads that passed a tower would have their own name for that tower. That is why there are two Western Avenue Towers in Chicago. Bob's comment below taught me that there are two 16th Street Towers. The other 16th Street Interlocking is about a block east of here.

In order for C&WI to get to Dearborn Station, which is east of La Salle Street Station, the five tracks of the C&WI and Santa Fe, which was a Dearborn tenant, took the low road and all of the other railroads were elevated around 16th Street.

The wall on the right in the above photo is the IC (Chicago, Madison & Northern, CM&N) embankment of the track that climbs from the 21st Street Crossing up to join the St. Charles Air Line (SCAL). Both sides of this embankment are now filled in so that the bridges in the background of Stuart's posting are now at ground level! It is probably filled with dirt from digging the basements and pilings of all of the new buildings that have been built south of the loop where all of the station and freight house tracks used to be.

Here is contemporary view of those bridges. The tracks going across the picture in the middle are the CN/IC tracks. The track in the right foreground is the remaining connector of the two connectors that used to go between the SCAL and the Rock Island + NYC tracks. The bridges in the near background used to go over the two Santa Fe tracks and the bigger girders in the bar background used to go over the four C&WI tracks. The IC bridges over the Santa Fe and the Rock Island + NYC bridges over the C&WI tracks have been removed. Clark Street used to have an overpass over the grade-level C&WI tracks. But when the C&WI tracks were removed, the overpass was removed.

In the following track diagram, I added a red box to show the remaining bridge remnants that are now filled in with dirt and a blue box to show the Rock Island 16th Street (IC Clark Street) Tower. (Note that some of the lines show concrete embankments rather than tracks. There are a lot of concrete embankments in this area because there are elevated tracks very close to grade level tracks.)

1964

1964

This is an excerpt at 100% magnification. The yellow box highlights building 135, which is labeled Interlocker Tower.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

The tower must have been rebuilt between 1938 and 1964 because it was square with the compass in 1938 but it was square with the tracks in the 1964 map.

Bill Molony posted
Monon Railroad Alco Century 420 #501 at Chicago in June 1967.
Bob Lalich Passing C&WI's 16th St Tower.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Bill's posting (120160416 2222)
I found it fascinating that they did not remove the bridges. They just filled in the track routes. I assume the first pair went over the Santa Fe tracks and the second pair went over the above C&WI route. I'm really surprised that some illegal scrapper has not hauled off the steel girders considering what they did with the rare Page Bascule Monon bridge over the Grand Calumet River.

Bill Molony posted
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad EMD E7A #28, southbound on the Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad tracks at 18th Street with C&EI train #3, the Danville Flyer back in June of 1969.The Danville Flyer was equipped with reclining seat coaches and a buffet lounge car, but did not handle checked baggage.
Dennis DeBruler And the C&WI 16th Street Tower past the end of the train, the boxcars are on the ICwest embankment, and the Erie Freight House is in the middle background.

Bill Molony posted again
Louisville & Nashville Railroad EMD E7A #28 (ex-Chicago & Eastern Illinois #1101) southbound at 18th Street with L&N train #3, the Danville Flyer, on the Chicago & Western Indiana tracks - June, 1969.
Brandon McShane Actually, that's a C&EI unit.Bill Molony The intermediate stops for this train were 63rd Street (Englewood Station), Chicago Heights-Steger, Momence, St. Anne, Watseka, Milford and Hoopeston.

Tom Carter posted

Conrail (ex-NYC) SW1 8498 is moving a long line of out-of-service Amtrak E-units near downtown Chicago area on June 19, 1980. I’m not certain where this is, but you can see the edge of the bascule bridge over the top of the trees at the left and the Sears tower is over the third clump of trees, so I’m thinking I must be standing on West 18th east of the river facing roughly north-northwest. Am I close? Also note the railroad tower just right of center.

Behind SW1 8498 are E8A’s 445, 438, 444, 447, E9B 478, and E8A 448. I know we need progress, but it seems such a shame to see these magnificent locomotives tossed aside, especially since each has a pre-Amtrak history as well. Click to enlarge.

ADDITION: FYI, the original owners of these engines, starting from the right behind the SW1 are: ACL, UP, ACL, PRR, PRR, PRR.
Dennis DeBruler This is one of the few shots I have seen that includes the C&WI 16th Street Interlocking. It is the only shot I have seen of the Santa Fe tracks to Dearborn. When they built the Ping Tom Park and Fieldhouse, they filled in the land to match the grade of the IC embankment. This "E" train would be running over the west side of today's ball diamond. The right outfield of that ball park would be close to Santa Fe's roundhouse. http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/.../c-16th-street...
Dennis DeBruler The bridge you mentioned is the St. Charles Airline Bridge: http://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/.../st-charles...
Dennis DeBruler The two smokestacks to the right of the bridge are on the Union Power Station: https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4...
Dennis DeBruler The Street View image has a wider angle than yours. And the trees have changed as well as filling in the old tracks to match the IC embankment. The C&WI tracks were on the left of the IC and the Santa Fe was on the right. https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...
Dennis DeBruler The Street View image has a wider angle than yours. And the trees have changed as well as filling in the old tracks to match the IC embankment. The C&WI tracks were on the left of the IC and the Santa Fe was on the right. https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...
Tom Carter Thanks much, Dennis. That's right where I had been looking on Google maps, so thanks for confirming.
[The tower Tom highlighted is this C&WI 16th Street Interlocking.]

John W. Barriger III Flickr
Bob Lalich's comment: "Looking north at 18th St from track #2. Note connection to Alton/GM&O track on IC elevation just past 18th St bridge. 16th St Tower in distance."

Mark Rickert commented on a post
Mark Rickert Also a fun fact there was two towers and two interlinings at that point, the C&WI had a tower at 16th st on their grade. I ended up with an IC switch lock from the connector between the two plants from my grandfather who found it among his stuff when cleaning up after the connection between the two railroads was cut in the 70's. when the station was being decommissioned.
Bob Lalich Mark Rickert - the only connection between C&WI and IC that I am aware of was located at the south end of the former's 16th St interlocking. Here is a Barriger photo showing the connection. Note that there is a hand thrown switch to the connector off the Alton. That would explain the switch key.
https://www.flickr.com/.../in/album-72157640505227503/
I believe the [C&WI to Alton+IC] connection was removed when the 16th St interlocker was rebuilt in 1940. Note that the connection is not shown in this 1940 drawing.

Arturo Gross posted, this photo used with specific permission, Flickr
One of Illinois Central's Iowa trains (with a flexi-van behind the E units, I think it's the Land O Corn) is at 18th street making the final approach to the St. Charles Air Line and Central station in Chicago Dec 1964. Original Kodachrome transparency photographer unknown, © Art Gross Collection.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurbig/

Larry Cook What’s a flexi-van?
Art Gross They were 1960s era container flats mostly used on passenger and express/mail trains. NYC developed them and several other roads bought them. Here's a Mike Schafer pic from classic trains that has a better view of some of the IC ones on the Land O Corn. http://ctr.trains.com/photo.../2017/06/flexi-vans-on-the-ic
Paul Jevert U.S. Mail from Chicago and Sunset Magazines and printing projects from R.R. Donnelly Lakeside Press at 21st St. among other "Hot comodities" !
Dennis DeBruler The C&WI 16th Street Tower is peaking over the top of the third passenger car from the rear. This overview shot of the tower helps me visualize where it was. I've seen photos "of" the tower, and "from" the tower, but this is the first "where was" the tower photo that I have seen.
Mark Jones So much to take note of in this wonderful view: the flagman has taken down the markers ( visible in the door) and the Condr is already mid-train w/ dutch door open — getting ready for arrival at 12st — end of the Line, Central Station!
[This is a rare view of the Sante Fe tracks that are to the right (East) of the embankment.]

Arturo Gross also posted

Steven J. Brown commented on Art's post
It looks a little different now [2019] (and 1993).
Juan Antonio Troncoso-Muñoz who owned the long gone tracks there?

Dennis DeBruler commented on Juan Antonio Troncoso-Munoz's comment on Steven's comment on Art's post

C&NW Bridge over Rock River in Rockford, IL

(Bridge Hunter, Bridge Hunter (Old), 3D Satellite)

Since this bridge is just upstream of the dam, it is the UP/C&NW bridge. There are more pictures of this bridge in the dam posting.

Brian Keith Landis posted, cropped
Brian has coauthored two books concerning Rockford railroading.
Rockford's first Railroad Bridge to cross the Rock River . was first built out of wood then later on steel . Brian Landis Photo.

This "new" bridge was built in 1896. According to the caption for this picture in Bridge Hunter, the 1854 bridge was a wooden arch bridge. Photography was invented before 1896 so I hope there is a picture of that bridge. A wooden arch bridge would be interesting to see.

Update: Now I understand: the 1854 bridge was a truss reinforced with an arch.

Brian Keith Landis posted
Rockford's first Galena Chicago and Union Railroad Bridge being built across the Rock River. The little Locomotive on the bridge is the Pioneer pulled first train into Rockford in 1852. I don't under stand what the person who took this picture was standing on.

Bill Molony posted

The Pioneer in 1869, when it was employed in work train service.

Chicago and North Western photograph.
Brian Keith Landis Taken in Rockford .Illinois

Brian Keith Landis posted
Under the Chicago Northwestern Railroad Bridge in Rockford IL. Now owned by the U.P. R.R.
Dennis Curless The steam pipe that sent steam from the CIE&G power to the downtown buildings that used steam for heat is intact.

Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted
We just found at the CNW Historical Society archives, in a box of miscellaneous material, this neat original photo of the "built 1869" C&NW bridge across the Rock River at Rockford. We like the view.

Thomas Fabianski posted two photos with the comment:

The UP crosses the Rock.
UP's Y-BE51X is seen crossing the Rock River in Rockford, IL on the UP Kenosha Division branch (KD branch). GP40-2 #1454 and GP60 #1038 take 3 cars to various industries along the branch, and are then seen returning with more empties.
Taken 3/28/2018

Lance Wales Technically, the bridge over the Rock River isn't the KD Line. The KD is the segment that goes north just east of the bridge.
Thomas Fabianski Thanks for the Info. Wasn't too sure if it was or not. Would this be classified as the Belvidere then? Sorry Im not too familar with that area.
Lance Wales Thomas Fabianski probably just the Rockford Branch. It might be called something different now. Back in the old days it was the Galena Division main, but the line only went as far as Freeport.
Lance Wales I really can't recall seeing many pictures of what the junction looked like back in the day. I assume there was sort of a switch tender there, taking care of things. As I understand it, westbound Kenosha Div passenger trains would have swung around onto the Galena Div and then backed westward across the Rock River to terminate at the CNW depot off South Main Street. I have an old 1917 public timetable, maybe I should consult that. The line was gone as a thru route in the late 30s I think. Need to consult some reference material!
Robert Jordan OP, did they go up the KD that day. When I was there they went up the KD but never crossed the river.
Tim Parrott I was with him that day they did cross the river but did not go up the KD line they switched in the yard and then went to a customer that was on central ave and then headed back to belvidere.

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1840s,1896 Fordam (Fordham) Dam and UP/C&NW Bridge in Rockford, IL

(3D Satellite)

The correct spelling is "Fordam." Google (Maps and Chrome spellcheck) is wrong, there is no "ham." [RockRiverCurrent]

There are more pictures of the dam in the bridge posting.

Rockford Rewind posted

The Rockford dam:

Fordham was first constructed in the 1840s as the Rockford Water Power Co. - first used for hydroelectric in 1896 by Rockford Electric Company.
In the 1930s the Rockford Electric Co. became part of the Central Illinois Electric and Gas Company. ComEd acquired the company in 1966. The power plant was closed in 1971-demolished in '75

Lon E. Walker The photo was taken by Lance Wales, Feb. 6, 2011.

John Marvig has a photo of the bridge that includes part of the upstream side of the dam.

Brian Keith Landis posted
Fast moving water on the Rock River
[During the 2017 heavy rains.]

According to some comments, this control structure was added in the 1970s.

Satellite

According to some comments, Rockford Electric Co. installed the hydroelectric plant in 1896. It was on the east side of the dam, and it had 6 turbine-generators. Hydroelectric power was terminated in 1938 because of "extreme poor efficiency." Judging by the smokestacks in this historical photo, the hydroelectric plant was replaced by a coal-fired power plant.

But what really caught my eye was the millrace on the west side of the river. Note the L-shape on the south side of the headrace. Evidently the plants at the south side used Kent Creek as their tailrace.

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Screenshot
Huge Flood! - Rockford, IL (July 22, 2017) Rock River Flood Waters!
[This view was taken from the former Milwaukee + CB&Q Bridge]

Screenshot
[It looks like two of the gates are still closed, one is open most of the way, and one is partially open.]

Screenshot
[This explains why they let a lot of the water go over the stationary part of the dam. The strong current and higher water level in the middle caused by the open gates creates whirlpools downstream where the flow merges with the slower and lower side currents.]

June 2025:

RockRiverCurrent
"A man fishes Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, along the Rock River south of Fordam Dam. The site will be used to test a product that harness the Rock River to generate electricity. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)"
The state has granted $914,330 to Latitude Power for the development and installation of a prototype hydropower product that would generate enough electricity to power five homes. 
"Once proven, the technology would be expanded to generate enough electricity to power at least 50 homes."