Lost Illinois Central Bridges over Rock River in Dixon, IL

(Archived Bridge Hunter, Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

Michael Wayne Sitter posted two photos with the comment: "Northbound crossing the Rock River at Dixon, IL in the summer of 1984. Looks like the crew had a very easy run this day! - Michael W. Sitter."

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Jim French Flickr photos: 1978 (Com-Ed plant in background) and 1979 via BridgeHunter.

The steel bents on top of masonry piers indicate that this steel girder bridge probably replaced a deck truss bridge. Gary Sams posting below confirms this theory. And it appears the piers were originally made of cut stone. The girder bridge was built in 1920. However, the girder bridge did not reuse the truss piers because they are spaced differently.

Gary Sams posted
Dixon, Illinois IC train

Satellite

This original charter line of the Illinois Central is now abandoned, but the piers remain as a monument to the railroad.

1939 Aerial Photo
from ILHAP

Michael Wayne Sitter posted four photos with the comment:

After completing its work at Dixon, the northbound La Salle-Freeport local resumes its journey and heads across the Rock River bridge. This is as far as my friend and I could chase the train on our bikes and because of the GM&O GP38 we rode those bikes as fast as we could back to his house to tell his Dad who fortunately is also a rail fan. It was quickly decided that we needed to chase the train by car! -Michael W. Sitter

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Harold J. Krewer posted those two photos with the comment:

North of Amboy, the main roads didn't follow the Gruber very closely and the train showed no indication it would be stopping for anything, so instead of gambling on getting another out-in-the-country shot I went straight to Dixon for the "money shot" of crossing the Rock River. I was not disappointed! August 1985, Harold Krewer photos.

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Jim French posted

Poor photo but lots of nostalgia. ICG Southbound at Dixon, IL (Summer 1978). Southbound ICG Train #73 crossing the Rock River at Dixon, IL. Com-Ed's former INU Dixon Station is seen in the background. It would be demolished the following year. Jim French photo.

[I had guessed that the short 2-bay hoppers were carrying sand. But a comment on a duplicate post explains that they are probably carrying cement, another dense material; and travelling between Marquette Cement and Wisconsin. In fact, I discovered that Dixon has its own cement plant.]

Michael Wayne Sitter posted
The southbound Freeport to La Salle local with an all orange Geep crossing the Rock River at Dixon, IL in the summer of 1985. The train is approaching the stone arch viaduct to the right where the joint ICG/CNW Sandusky spur crossed under the ICG on its way to the Medusa Cement Plant. The north side of Dixon had many grade crossings and when I heard the horn sound I had ridden my bike as close as I could for a quick grab shot. I lived just a few blocks to the west from this location. The grassy field in the foreground once was the site of a large coal fired steam plant. -Michael W. Sitter

A Flickr Album that starts with a 1977 photo of the bridge with IH combines crossing it. (source)

Mar 2025: Some photos posted by Ed Pilar with the comment: "ROCK RIVER @ DIXON IL MARCH 3 2025,"

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MArch 3 2025 Rock River old Railroad brdge. Soon a Walk way. The crane is beging the work. Dixon, IL

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