Rating:
4 votes

CN - Des Plaines River Bridge

Cook County, Illinois

Photos 

Photo taken by Steve Conro in March 2012

Enlarge

BH Photo #228079

Map 

Description 

Two track bridge with one track abandoned. Doesn't appear to get much use, rails very rusted

Facts 

Overview
Through truss bridge over Des Plaines River on CNRR (former Soo Line RR)
Location
River Forest, Cook County, Illinois
Status
Open to traffic
Railroads
- Canadian National Railway (CN)
- Soo Line Railroad (SOO)
Design
Pratt through truss
Dimensions
Total length: 140.0 ft.
Also called
Soo Line - Des Plaines River Bridge
Rainbow Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+41.90402, -87.83202   (decimal degrees)
41°54'14" N, 87°49'55" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/430990/4639454 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
River Forest
Inventory number
BH 51771 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Canadian National Railway (571)
Cook County, Illinois (490)
Des Plaines River (27)
Illinois (4,929)
Open (40,969)
Pratt through truss (6,056)
Pratt truss (10,296)
 Railroad (16,458)
River Forest, Illinois (9)
Soo Line Railroad (322)
Through truss (16,775)
Total length 125-175 feet (6,185)
Truss (35,451)

Update Log 

  • August 31, 2020: Updated by Tyler: Added “Rainbow Bridge” name used by public
  • March 21, 2012: Updated by Luke Harden: Added category "Canadian National Railway"
  • March 21, 2012: Updated by Steve Conro: Added category "Soo Line Railroad"

Sources 

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Comments 

CN - Des Plaines River Bridge
Posted December 26, 2017, by John Marvig (marvigj27 [at] gmail [dot] com)

Andrew,

This is the former Soo Line mainline from Minneapolis to Chicago via Wisconsin. I believe it was laid down in 1886/7.

CN - Des Plaines River Bridge
Posted December 26, 2017, by Andrew Pollak (cqzbox1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

When do you think that railroad line was laid down? Not the bridge but the line itself. I looked at an 1891 map and it's already there. Also, another question, did trains occ. stop at these places especially on super hot days to allow people to cool off a bit? I always wondered if these places sometimes became a short stop swimming hole.

Thanks!

Soo Line RR Des Plaines River Bridge
Posted March 21, 2012, by Steve Conro (sconro [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Thanks Gary, I hadn't thought of that. I'll include that info on the others on this stretch.

Soo Line Des Plaines River Bridge
Posted March 21, 2012, by Gary Sprandel (jaidite [at] aol [dot] com)

Since the merger of the EJ&E that is one very,very dead piece of railroad.