CB&Q Swing Bridge and Lock & Dam at Mouth of Galena River

(Satellite)

I wonder how far up the Galena River steamboats could go back then.

Dale Click posted
Lock and dam at mouth of Galena River c. 1900

CB&Q Four Mile Bridges over Des Moines River between Ottumwa and Chillicothe, IA

1903: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter is broke, no Historic Bridges)

2002: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter is broke, no Historic Bridges; Satellite)

B-Rad G Flickr

Joy Taylor posted
The BNSF Four Mile Bridge spans the Des Moines River near Ottumwa and Chillicothe in SE Iowa.

JohnMarvigBridges, cropped

Located between Ottumwa and Chillicothe, this massive bridge is locally known as the "Four Mile" bridge.

The original bridge here dates to the 1860s. However, that bridge was upgraded at least once before this bridge was built. In 1903, the CB&Q double tracked this bridge, building a five span pin connected Pratt Through Truss bridge, approached by seven spans of deck girder on the west, and five spans of deck girder on the east.

This iteration of the Four Mile Bridge was one of several spans built by King Bridge Company for this line. Several others, although much smaller spans, were also built during double tracking projects.

In 2002, BNSF decided to upgrade the bridge to the current configuration. The five truss spans were replaced with two new riveted Warren Through Truss spans, as well as several beam spans.

Unfortunately, this greatly reduced the significance of this bridge. Unaltered, this would have been one of the more significant bridges over the Des Moines River.

Today, the deck girder spans still remain, approaching the modern trusses. Several upgrades have been made to the substructures of the bridge since.

JohnMarvigBridges
[I wonder why BNSF went back to rivets. Generally, high-strength bolts have been used since the 1970s.]

1888+1982 BNSF/(CB&Q+GN) Bridge over Missouri River at Sioux City, IA

1888: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; HAER)

1982: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

 

Street View, Sep 2024

Street View, Sep 2024

Photo provided by the Smithsonian Institution via BridgeHunter_1888, Public Domain

I found this bridge while researching how the CB&Q Railroad that was south of Sioux City connected with the Great Northern Railroad that was north of Sioux City. It looks like the bridge also helped C&NW connect some of its routes.

- Burlington Northern Railroad (BN)

- Chicago & North Western Railway (CNW)

- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CBQ)

- Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CMO)

- Great Northern Railway (GN)

[BridgeHunter_1888]

Except for the navigation span, the new bridge is a steel girder bridge.

2018 photo by John Bernhisel via BridgeHunter_1982

The BNSF is made up of four routes in the Sioux City area. The CB&Q was the unlabeled routes on the south and west side of the area. The middle route in the upper-right corner was the Great Northern. And BNSF bought the Milwaukee route to the northwest. (The Milwaukee to the southeast is abandoned.)

1955/67 Sioux City Quad @ 250,000

This BNSF system map summarizes the four routes.

BSNF_network

It is interesting that the former-CB&Q route to the west is omitted from this map.

BNSF_subdivision

1893,2013 Bellefontaine Bridge over Missouri River near the Mouth

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; HAER; Satellite)

BridgeHunter also included this HAER, but that is of a bridge in Nebraska, not Missouri!

HistoricBridges rates this bridge as 9/10 national and 10/10 locally. It is one of the few bridges left that was designed by George Morison, who Nathan calls "one of the greatest engineers in American history...who built some of the first major river, long-span metal truss bridges in America. Visit the Frisco Bridge page to learn more about Morison."

HAER MO,95-SALU.V,1--3
3. EAST WEB, SHOWING PIERS AND SHORELINE; VIEW TO NORTH - Bellefontaine Bridge, Saint Louis, Independent City, MO

 

HAER MO,95-SALU.V,1--31zzz
31. Photocopy of historic photograph, photographer unknown, date unknown. TRAIN PASSING THROUGH SPAN AT NORTH END OF BRIDGE

Only two of the four cut-stone piers have needed reinforcement so far.

Street View, Jul 2022

The approach on the north side is a viaduct over a flood plain. According to a comment by Al Bertram on BridgeHunter, it was rebuilt and the piers were capped around 2014.

Street View, Oct 2022

Street View, May 2013

This view shows that the flood plain does get wet.

Street View, Jul 2015
Aug 2019 and Jan 2022 also have standing water in the field.

Given that the river was high in Jul 2015, I went back and got a view of the main channel back then.

Street View, Jul 2015

safe_image for 1893: A Newly Built Railroad Bridge in Missouri Passes a Crucial Test
Photo Credit: Library of Congress
"The Bellefontaine Bridge was one of the first bridges to incorporate what is known as the Baltimore truss design."

pdf, p 6 via archive via BridgeHunter
The Bellefontaine Bridge: a report to Charles E. Perkins, president of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad [published 1894]

IR/BNSF/BN/CB&Q Bridge over Fox River at Montgomery, IL

(Satellite)

Judging from the skinny piers placed between the middle pier and the shores, this bridge used to have two truss spans.

Street View, Sep 2021

Marty Bernard shared a Flickr link
CB&Q 4960 taking a fan trip across the Fox River Bridge at Montgomery, IL on June 20, 1965. Please look at it full screen.
Robert Chawgo: Beautiful....and the C&S auxiliary water tender.
Marty Bernard posted

CB&Q 4960 Crossing the Fox River at Montgomery, IL

The fantrip was on June 20, 1965.

Marty Bernard shared

Allen Hartman: Is that an extra water tender ?

Jason R Maxwell: Allen Hartman, yes

CB&Q Covered Bridge over Vermilion River at Streator, IL

(Bridge Hunter broke Apr 22, 2023; Satellite)

John Burt posted
CB&Q covered trestle over the Vermilion River at Streator on the Zearing branch. 1927. The cover was removed in the early 30s.
Thomas Whitt shared
Wow!

John Burt commented on his post
This is all that's left of the trestle today.

Dennis DeBruler commented on John's post
 https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1318262,-88.8516792,90m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

Aban/CB&Q Bridge and Guard (#33) Lock on Hennepin Feeder Canal in Rock Falls, IL

Bridge: (no Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

Lock: (Satellite)

Hennepin Canal overview

Normally, I would skip yet anther mundane steel-girder deck bridge. But the canal intreged me. It is the feeder canal for the Hennepin Canal.

Dave Kuntz posted
Another ghost for you - an abandoned MILW [actually, CB&Q] bridge spanning a mostly abandoned canal near Rock Falls, IL
Mike Breski shared

 

Friends of the Hennepin Canal posted

Did you know?

There are 33 locks on the canal. Thirty-two are still visible. Fourteen of the locks had Marshall gates, which are unique to the Hennepin, and are raised and lowered on a horizontal axis, much like a rural mailbox. Five of the locks have been restored to working condition, although they are not used. (From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.)

Pictured below is the Guard Lock, Sluice Gates and Guard House at the Hennepin Canal in Rock Falls, Illinois in 1907. (Image from University of Wisconsin Madison online libraries.)

Logan Fahr: All 33 locks are visible.

Gary Wagle: Logan Fahr Actually, Lock #1, in Bureau on the Illinois River, no longer exists...washed out by flooding and neglect. Most all of the other 32 locks exist, in part.

Logan Fahr commented on Gary's comment
oh its there 

 

Hennepin Canal State Park posted
Today's Throwback Thursday photo shows the digging of solid rock below the Guard Lock in Rock Falls.

Hennepin Canal State Park posted
Today's Throwback Thursday picture features the Overseer's House and the Feeder Lock (33) in Rock Falls. Photo taken in 1970.
Gary Wagle: This lock is also know as "the Guard Lock" because it is at the canal's headwaters, connecting Lake Sinnissippi (Rock River) to the canal. Adjoining the lock are two Tainter gates which control all of the water that flows through the canal. Currently, this lock and these gates are in major disrepair. If they would fail, Lake Sinnissippi would rush down the Feeder, bursting levees, resulting in dewatering of the canal. Fortunately, the Friends of the Hennepin Canal, an independent 501c3 support group, has secured a $10.2 million commitment from the State for repair of these structures. Requests for construction bids are being processed. Daniel Crebo: That's old man Bonnell sitting on the ground, Hell of a fly fisherman.

John Vize posted
Birds Eye view of the guard lock from the water tower looking northeast, Sept 28, 1909. Note the volume of water flowing into the feeder canal in this photo compared to now.

John Vize posted
The Guard Lock on the Feeder at Rock Falls in the early days of the canal. Photo from my collection.
Lloyd Scott Hardin shared

John Fize posted
Feeder guard lock from N.W. Sept 25, 1909.@

Baron Jennings posted three photos with the comment:

Lock #33 was also called the Feeder Canal Guard Lock, and was built at Rock Falls to bring water into the canal, and allow boats off of the Rock River to enter the canal system.

Here is a general photo of the lock from the north, a closer view of the north gates, and a view of the gate lift mechanism on the sluice gates. The gate lift allowed water to enter the canal or shut off without using the main lock.

1946 Sterling Quad @ 62,500

CB&Q Overview

 The best overview map I've found.

William A. Shaffer posted

This one is also pretty good.

Chuck Mountain posted
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail Road 1883
Dennis DeBruler shared
This map shows both routes that went North from Aurora, IL. Of course, the one on the east side of the Fox River was the 1850 Aurora Branch Railroad that connected to the C&NW. That railroad was one of the railroads that formed the CB&Q in 1856. The direct line to Chicago along the Southwest Plank Road did not open until 1863.

It began with the Aurora Branch Railroad.

Aurora Historical Society posted

OCTOBER 21, 1850    

     The Aurora Branch Railroad (later the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy) inaugurates service between Aurora and Chicago, via Batavia and Turner Junction (West Chicago).  The 12-mile branch railroad connected Aurora to the tracks of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad (later Chicago & Northwestern), where it used those tracks and right of way to complete the journey into Chicago.  There were two round trips each day.     

     By 1855, the railroad expanded to become the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy (CB & Q).  By the 1920s, the railroad had 12,000 miles of track over 14 states, and the Burlington Route adopted the slogan, “Everywhere West.”  Today, the railroad is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). 

     Map – Overton, Richard C., Burlington Route – A History of the Burlington Lines. New York: Alfred A. Knopf; 1965

Jimmy Fiedler: Actually the first train on the Aurora Branch RR was in September 1850 from Batavia to Turner Junction. The line fully opened in October 1850, used a borrowed locomotive from the G&CU called the Pioneer. I doubt the Aurora Branch had direct service to Chicago, but passengers would transfer to a G&CU train. It took 9 hours by railroad to travel from Aurora to Chicago. The Aurora Branch reorganized into the Chicago & Aurora RR in 1852-1855, the line was extended to Mendota from Aurora. In 1856 the C&A RR merged with 5 other railroads & formed the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR in 1856. The Branch from Aurora to Turner Junction was the CB&Q route into Chicago until 1863 when the line built from Aurora to Chicago was completed.

Bob Klein: Eola Rd was named such for End Of Line Aurora

[That road is on the east end of Eola Yard.]

Robert Wakerly: I'm doubtful that it's the BNSF today as the description states. The BNSF goes thru Hinsdale, Downers Grove and Naperville (not far from Ogden Ave. S.W. Plank rd. On the map) Rather, the Galena and Chicago Union railroad on the map looks like the Union Pacific West line today which goes through Elmhurst, Lombard, Wheaton and West Chicago.

Greg Beat: Robert Wakerly Correct. During Civil War CB&Q built from Aurora to Chicago along the S.W. Plank Road.

The original 12 miles of CB&Q still largely exists, but ends behind closed General Mills (Cherrios) plant. The “Tower JC" on the CB&Q and crossing/switches are Gone.

The.Tower JA" on the CN&W Freeport/Williams Bay Line was closed in 1949 and was moved

to the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in Union, IL.

Tower JB” in Manned and Operational, EJ&E (now Canadian National) Crossing with Union Pacific (former Chicago & North Western) Geneva Subdivision

Mechanical interlocking installed 1889

Electric interlocking installed 1901

New tower constructed 1926

Larry J. Pearlman: The first locomotive on the Aurora Branch was the Pioneer. A second hand steam engine bought from G&CU!

John R. Jaros: Larry J. Pearlman The Pioneer was the first train engine in the Chicago region. The Aurora Branch borrowed it from the Galena & Chicago Union RR because they were still waiting on locomotives on order. Today, it can be seen at the Chicago History Museum.

Jimmy Fiedler commented on Larry's comment

Chuck Mountain posted
Chicago to San Franciso via the Burlington Route c.1879

1879

1880

Chuck Mountain posted
Restored railroad map: Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Rail Road 1881
[Too bad there was not a link to a high resolution copy of the map. I didn't study it in detail but I happen to notice that it doesn't have the branch that went West from Streator.]

1902

1919

1970?

I knew there was a lot of coal and sand in Illinois. I thought there would be more limestone. And I didn't appreciate that clay was considered a significant mineral resource. Glass and moulding sand was also of interest.

Chuck Mountain posted
Mineral Resources Map of the Burlington Lines 1940

Track Diagrams PDF (799mb)

I have notes on some of the predecessor railroads:

• Illinois Valley and Northern Railroad
• Illinois Grand Trunk Railway
• Ottawa, Oswego & Fox River Valley Railroad
• Iowa and Saint Louis Railroad

CB&Q's Iowa and Saint Louis Railroad

Google API

Iowa and Saint Louis Railway (I&StL) was incorporated in Missouri on May 18, 1901 and in Iowa on April 2, 1902. It built north from Omaha, Kansas City & Eastern Railroad from Novinger, MO and south from Sedan (Centerville), IA, until the segments met in 1903. It also built south of Novinger to Elmer (Mercyville) in 1903. CB&Q leased it September 1, 1903, before it was completed November 28, 1903. It was sold to CB&Q December 1, 1903. [CorporateHistory, pp. 310-311] Another source says the I&StL merged into CB&Q in 1905. [BNSF Segments, Segment 1622] It was abandoned in 1936 except for the segment from Novinger south to South Gifford, which was abandoned in 1942. [BNSF Segments]

Unfortunately, Google broke their API soon after I used it. I'm not willing to learn how to fix it because I'm afraid they will just break it again. So I looked for some CB&Q maps. Some were too old and this branch did not yet exist. The others were too new and the branch was already gone. I did find a 1940 map that still had the segment between Novinger and South Gifford.

William A. Shaffer posted

Then I tried topo maps. The large scale maps were too new to still have it. The small scale maps were too tedious to follow the route. But I include the following excerpt to confirm the branch did go through Novinger.

1913 Queen City and 1938 Kirksville Quads @ 62,500

I learned of the existence of this railroad from this Facebook posting of an abandoned depot in South Gifford, MO. 

D.W. Cole posted on Facebook

I also learned that there were coal mining areas in North Central Missouri. Coal dominated the traffic on the line, so when the underground mines became too expensive to operate because of water inflow and thin seams, the railroad became a victim of highways and the depression. [Wikipedia]

A reader who wishes to remain anonymous provided the correct location of this depot.

Abandoned Railroads