CNW - Fox River Bridge

I tried revisiting this bridge on 2/27, but it has since been fenced off, as Otto Engineering is expanding their building. As for the bridge itself, fortunately it does not appear to be part of the construction site at this time. I am still hoping a group or museum can find a way to move this historic bridge.

Damage to Western side of Eastern leg of bridge 2012

West leg of bridge in 2012

hello...from a book about the C&NW in Elgin, this bridge was built to also access ice blocks from the fox River back in the day...(early 1900's)..... paul

Ed,

When I was researching this bridge, I found that a lattice truss was built here in 1879. If I recall, it was even the same size. I'll have to see if I can find that book again. The wood piles have been updated over time I'm sure. Also, I wouldn't expect a railroad to be using cut stone on a spur like this.

I would expect that this bridge replaced the 1879 bridge and that it was not new when it was put here. Railroads had a history of moving older bridges from main lines to secondary lines or spurs when the mainline is upgraded. The pilings this bridge set on don't look like what one would expect on a bridge of this size. Cut stone would be more likely in 1879.

Good news from Carpentersville!

The individual trying to preserve the bridge has found the deed to the bridge; which states the property should be in the cities ownership. However, there are conflicting documents. Once these are resolved, the preservation talks can move forward.

I can't imagine the piers or the approach are anywhere near original. Most trestle pieces are replaced every 30-40 years from what I've seen. Even with this being a spur, a good bet is they were last updated in the first couple decades of the 20th century

I stumbled upon this article which suggests although Chicago Northwestern RR operated the line, that Mr. Carpenter's company funded the bridge, so maybe the ownership by landowner (not railroad line) is a result of this event, over a century ago?

http://www.homesbyotto.com/carpentersville/

I agree with Clark, the substructure appears to be non-original.

On a sidenote, there were once other truss bridges in town, per this historical photo in the article.

I can't imagine these are the original supports. The picture of the bearing plate sitting atop wood seems wrong.

Clark,

When I researched the bridge, it mentioned that this structure was built here in 1879. The line was built as a spur to serve industries located along the opposite bank of the river.

Has this bridge been relocated? I see wooden pilings holding it up. This doesn't seem like a system that would have endured as long as the bridge. I associate spans of this age with ashlar piers and abutments.

The bridge is not scheduled for demolition, but likely could succumb to flooding in the near future. As for how Otto ended up with the bridge, I assume it was on land they purchased. I know the owner has expressed interest in preserving the structure.

How did an engineering firm end up owning this bridge? And what is the current status of the bridge... are demolition plans being made at this time?

A petition has been started to preserve this extremely historic bridge! Give it a read and a sign!

https://www.change.org/p/otto-engineering-inc-save-the-carpe...

Approach spans for this bridge have collapsed: http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/17366369-418/one-more-b...

Further info on the AE&FRE...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora,_Elgin_and_Fox_River_Ele...

Carpentersville was the AE&FRE's northern terminal so it lends further credibility to the interchange theory.

A 1928 map shows this to be a spur crossing the Fox River and ending up north of the dam. Must been some business that needed rail on the west side of the river.

Not sure if that was C&NW as the C&NW's Elgin to Lake Geneva line crosses the Fox a bit north of there in Algonquin.

I know the Fox Valley was spider webbed with interurban railroads through the mid 20th century and you can still make out bits of the right of way of the old Aurora,Elgin & Fox River Electric Railway on the west bank( you could still see the AE&FRE rails in the street at the intersection of Lincoln and Main until they redid the streets in the early 80's.

I'd always thought that bridge to be a freight interchange lead between the AE&FRE and the C&NW.