Another great CGW video! The bit about the opposition to rails-to-trails was an interesting inclusion. The article you showed which compared the enjoyment of using a bike trail to the “bread and circuses” which supposedly brought down the Roman Empire was just a tad overdramatic! 😂
Thanks for the support and for watching! Yes, we wondered what ever happened to this portion of the ROW - as to why it reverted back to the local landowners - and so we thought we would answer that within the scope of the video. The letter to the editor seemed an apt if overdramatic conclusion to the fate of the ROW.
Just to the south of Freeport on Rt 26. The Great Western crossed over the highway and the Milwaukee road on one very large timber trestle. Last I knew still was a cgw milepost on the east side embankment on route 26. You can kinda see it on Google maps. I love your videos keep up the great work
Thanks very much for watching and commenting! We will watch out for that on a future trip. Someone else had remarked on that large trestle as well. We've noted that there were a number of large trestles in Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties. We'll be exploring at least one of those in a future video. Thanks again!
I grew up in Bolton, i was born in 1975.. Most of my family lived there. I own the two story on the south end. I remember a barn & store. They were torn down in the 1980's. My grandfather told me many stories about the railroad. The path is still there & until a couple years ago it was being used as a snowmobile trail, to the east there is a bridge.
Thanks for watching the video! And thanks for taking the time to comment and to share your memories of Bolton. We didn't have much opportunity to see whether the ROW was intact and extended east and west of there - so very good to know that it's still there to an extent. Thanks again!
Thanks for the kind words and for watching! It has been an exciting adventure so far - so many places to see and learn about - and a surprising number of relics of the old railroad still extant. We are enjoying it! Glad that you are finding it of interest!
That's interesting. We wondered about that bridge, whether it was still intact. May have to revisit the area in the future. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I threw rocks at GW boxcars and put pennies on the tracks in Maywood at 9th ave in the late 50’s. Thanks for these videos. America must have been a busy place 100-150 years ago ago. We have nothing but decline now. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your experiences regarding the CGW from your childhood - and for taking the time to comment! Yes, the world has indeed changed, and the railroads, once so vital to communities, have been diminished to the point of being somewhat unrecognizable. Thanks again!
I have enjoyed all your videos on the lost rail stations. I myself have hunted for signs of the old stations along the many railroads that are now gone. The amount of research that you have done to make these videos is amazing.
I believe that the Chicago Great Western used the Illinois Central trackage From South Freeport to Dubuque for a period of time until the Winston tunnel was completed. There is still a large stone culvert just west of the current Pearl City School bus garage.
Wow! I live nearby and have biked all over these roads and have researched the route of the CGW myself, but you've added many details to what I knew, and provided a look at what I've only tried to imagine. Thank you for the exceptionally well done and informative video!
I moved to Byron in 1981 and I always thought that the CGW would have made an excellent bike trail. I did not know how the locals defeated the proposed bike trail. It does not make me happy to get the rest of the story. Thank you for following the CGW I am enjoying the series.
Thanks once again for an excellent look at a part of the CGW. I never thought of it before but I had to wonder why the CGW never went into Freeport, especially since, as you said, Freeport wanted them to come in. & naturally, I was not happy about the failed bike trail. The trail here in Dubuque is a great benefit to the area. Looking forward to the next leg of your journey & excited that you are getting to Jo Davies County & the Dubuque area where I live.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, we wondered about that too, which got us looking for the answer, which we found in a series of newspaper articles from the early to mid 1970s. It would have made for an extraordinary and challenging trail through such scenic areas.
Thanks for this video! I wonder if the roundhouse site in Pearl City was still visible (I can locate it on Google Maps). It was there to help switch the trains to stronger engines in order to handle the much steeper grade as the CGW climbed towards NW Illinois. I hope you also find the great lost depot in Woodbine!
I believe what you believe was a round house is a temporary corn storage bin for the elevator that was built on the right of way east of the elevator after the rail road was abandoned.
@@leemiche5449 I think you're right. The roundhouse may have been a bit further west in East Stockton. I found some videos on a You Tube page by northernrailfan.
There was a large CGW facility at East Stockton, just to the east of Curtiss Road. East Stockton is likely the location you are thinking of. The former East Stockton location stood out on older aerial photos, but is not conspicuous on the present day satellite view. When CGW dieselized in the late 1940's, the East Stockton facility was no longer needed and was abandoned.
Before you visit the Winston/Aiken/Galena Jct segment, please check that those areas are not closed due to hunting. In Oct-Nov-Dec, there are scattered dates each year when non-hunters are not permitted in those public areas. The exact dates are listed in my follow up response below. Keep up the good work. I especially enjoy the drone footage.
Thanks for watching and the excellent advice! Would not want to be shot at while checking out these areas. Or to make the drive to find out that they are closed.
@@BeHistoric Aiken is located directly on S. RIver Road and the former RIce location is located next to Blackjack Rd. Those two locations are accessible at any time. However, if you are planning to Galena Jct,, that location is accessible to the public only by riding on the bike trail, either 2 miles from Aiken or 3.5 miles from Galena. Per VisitGalena, The Galena River bike trail is closed: Oct. 8-10, 2022 - Youth firearm Oct. 22-30, 2022 - Turkey season / firearm Nov. 18-20, 2022 - Deer season / firearm Dec. 1-4, 2022 - Deer season / firearm Dec. 9-11, 2022 - Deer season / muzzleloader only Dec. 29, 2022-Jan. 1, 2023 - Deer season / late winter antlerless only and special CWD Jan. 13-15, 2023 - Deer season / late winter antlerless only and special CWD The Winston Tunnel area, as far as I can tell, is closed during the deer firearms seasons, Nov 18-20 and Dec 1-4, but might also be closed during all of the Oct-Dec dates I have listed above. I do not think there was ever a station near The Tunnel itself, but I would be surprised if you skipped that location. I will likely visit in a couple weeks and share my findings.
Thank you for another informative video on locations of these three former Chicago Great Western Depots. There is some information in the book "Chicago Great Western: Depots Along the Corn Belt Route" by Joe Pierson and Jerry Huddelston that is published by the Chicago & North Western Historical Society about the Pearl City, Illinois CGS depot. The book indicates that the original depot was destroyed in a wreck in 1948. But then it goes on to say that the 22-foot by 55-foot depot was retired in 1955. This may mean that the depot was not destroyed but damaged and repaired in 1948. The concrete depot was built in 1953 or 1955 depending on sources. The concrete depot was 10-feet 4 inches by 35-feet 6 inches. The concrete depot was retired in 1968 and demolished in the 1990s. The drone views of the remains of the Crane Creek Bridge and the Spring Branch Bridge were added attractions to the video. The painting of the CGW Agent's residence at South Freeport, Illinois. Appears to be an exact rendition of the description of the Agent's residence that is given in the above-mentioned book. Within the last couple of days, I was thinking that is was about time for you to unload another video in your series on the Chicago Great Western depots.
Thanks for watching and your continual support of the channel! Thanks too for the additional observations. The 1953 local newspapers specifically say that the 1953 freight car derailment partially destroyed the depot. Another viewer sent along a few photosto us, which show the partially destroyed depot. We tend to believe the contemporary newspaper reports from 1953, as they are primary sources. Later in 1953, local newspapers report the dismantling of the original depot, salvaging its lumber. Perhaps there was earlier damage to the depot in the late 1940s - although we did not find any newspaper reports on that. But the story may be more complicated than we realize. So thanks for those additional sources of information!
@@BeHistoricBeHistoric The information in the CGW Depot Book is confusing. Under the date of 1948 there is information about the construction of a concrete building that is 10-feet by 35-feet. The next sentence talks about the construction of a concrete building taking place in 1953 or 1955. There is an additional 1948 line that says the depot was destroyed in a wreck. The next line has the date of 1955 with the description Retire depot 22-feet by 55-feet. Depot razed in 1990s. (The depot razed in the 1990s was the concrete depot.) The next line is dated 1966 and it has the notation Retire concrete depot. This information was found in Chicago Great Western AFEs (Authorization for Expenditure) that Joe Pierson used to create a database on the CGW depots. I believe that these AFEs are in the Archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society.
@@thomasmackowiak Thanks for providing that interesting additional information regarding the Pearl City depot. Will have to go back and see whether there was anything that happened in the 1948 timeframe. Thanks again!
@@thomasmackowiak BTW, the newspaper article describing the freight train derailment that partially destroyed the depot was from May 14, 1953 (Belvidere Republican). The dismantling of the wrecked depot newspaper article was from late November, 1953 (Freeport Journal Standard).
@@BeHistoricThe information in the Chicago Great Western Depot book must be inaccurate. I have no idea what if anything happened in 1948. When I initially read the information about the Pearl City, Illinois depot, I was confused as to when the original depot was destroyed. It is obvious from the information in the Belvidere, and the Freeport newspapers that the Pearl City, Illinois depot was destroyed in 1953. I know one of the people who works in the Archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society. I will contact him and let him know that there is a problem with the information in the CGW Depot book and what is reported in the two newspapers. He may be able to look in the CNWHS Archives to see what information in the Archives says.
Wow! That's very interesting. Is that possibly going over Lost Creek, to the east of MillGrove Road? It looked like there was something on the satellite photos there, but we weren't sure. We would love to see the photos. Can you possibly share via our email, at brian@behistoric.org
starting day 2 of re-watch this series - RE: the Yellow Creek Bridge i believe you are at the wrong bridge there are 2 bridges one between Bower Rd and Mill Grove Rd (Yellow or Lost)- and doesnt seem to have a bridge anymore .. the concrete bridge you are showing seems to be the Spring Branch Bridge between Mill Grove and Schuman Rd
Yes, this was the bridge north of Loran Road over the Spring Creek - that's the one we saw, recorded, and commented on. In the video we said, "We’ll then travel a little more than a mile, crossing over Yellow Creek. We then turn right, heading west, onto Loran Road, and travel about a half mile, parking along the road to the south of the bridge site." And so we crossed over Yellow Creek on our way to this bridge - but the bridge was the one north of Loran Road. We didn't mention Spring Creek, however. Thanks for commenting!
@@BeHistoric ok i know where i messed up i got my North and south confused somehow i got it you were driving north on S Mill Grove ... but you were going South that bridge goes over a crick stream looking thing that is called Spring Branch (not even labeled creek) Per topo maps and Google earth/maps .. just a 100 feet to the north it empty's into Yellow Creek ... there was a bridge over Yellow Creek but it looks like it was removed or maybe collapsed its just to the east .. if you would have made a left onto Loran and not a right on Loran after (its a jog road) i see enough on aerials to want to see it for my own eyes as ... it looks wired .. the bridge is gone for sure over the water .. but it looks like there might still be a bridge on the east side of Yellow Creek .. a long flat section
@@brianberthold3118 Yes, it's difficult to see some of the smaller bridges and culverts, unless they are out in the open. If you can find an aerial taken in the late autumn or early spring, then you can see more - but those aren't always available. We've passed over a few artifacts that were hiding in the woods, as we couldn't see them on the aerials and so didn't know they were there. A few viewers have pointed some of these out to us - which is great.
Great videos! Thumbs up before the opening music plays!
Thanks much for watching and commenting!
Another great CGW video! The bit about the opposition to rails-to-trails was an interesting inclusion. The article you showed which compared the enjoyment of using a bike trail to the “bread and circuses” which supposedly brought down the Roman Empire was just a tad overdramatic! 😂
Thanks for the support and for watching! Yes, we wondered what ever happened to this portion of the ROW - as to why it reverted back to the local landowners - and so we thought we would answer that within the scope of the video. The letter to the editor seemed an apt if overdramatic conclusion to the fate of the ROW.
Just to the south of Freeport on Rt 26. The Great Western crossed over the highway and the Milwaukee road on one very large timber trestle. Last I knew still was a cgw milepost on the east side embankment on route 26. You can kinda see it on Google maps. I love your videos keep up the great work
Thanks very much for watching and commenting! We will watch out for that on a future trip. Someone else had remarked on that large trestle as well. We've noted that there were a number of large trestles in Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties. We'll be exploring at least one of those in a future video. Thanks again!
I grew up in Bolton, i was born in 1975.. Most of my family lived there. I own the two story on the south end. I remember a barn & store. They were torn down in the 1980's. My grandfather told me many stories about the railroad. The path is still there & until a couple years ago it was being used as a snowmobile trail, to the east there is a bridge.
Thanks for watching the video! And thanks for taking the time to comment and to share your memories of Bolton. We didn't have much opportunity to see whether the ROW was intact and extended east and west of there - so very good to know that it's still there to an extent. Thanks again!
These videos are just awesome, and so very well executed! Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the Chicago Great Western!
Thanks for the kind words and for watching! It has been an exciting adventure so far - so many places to see and learn about - and a surprising number of relics of the old railroad still extant. We are enjoying it! Glad that you are finding it of interest!
Just east if that small bridge on Loran road is another larger bridge site. Grew up on Loran road.
That's interesting. We wondered about that bridge, whether it was still intact. May have to revisit the area in the future. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Marvelous as always guys!
Thanks for watching and for the continuing support!
I threw rocks at GW boxcars and put pennies on the tracks in Maywood at 9th ave in the late 50’s. Thanks for these videos. America must have been a busy place 100-150 years ago ago. We have nothing but decline now. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your experiences regarding the CGW from your childhood - and for taking the time to comment! Yes, the world has indeed changed, and the railroads, once so vital to communities, have been diminished to the point of being somewhat unrecognizable. Thanks again!
Great job as usual. The drone footage is really valuable and informative.
Thanks very much for watching and commenting, Jerry! Much appreciated!
@@BeHistoric Love the videos. Will you do a video of the CGW from Pearl City to Dubuque?
I would recommend filming the bridge remains during winter or spring possibly for a better view.
Thanks for commenting. We'll see where our schedule takes us. Drone flying in the winter can be a bit more problematic, due to heavier winds.
Well done! Another fine production. Interesting that [selfish] farmers got in the way of a rails to trails project. But I’m not surprised.
Thank your for watching and commenting!
I have enjoyed all your videos on the lost rail stations. I myself have hunted for signs of the old stations along the many railroads that are now gone. The amount of research that you have done to make these videos is amazing.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Very much appreciated!
Your Videos are always fantastic and informative.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching! Much appreciated!
I’m really enjoying this series. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the kind words and for supporting the channel!
Another terrific video with great attention to detail. Keep going.
Thanks for watching and the support! We will do our best!
I believe that the Chicago Great Western used the Illinois Central trackage From South Freeport to Dubuque for a period of time until the Winston tunnel was completed. There is still a large stone culvert just west of the current Pearl City School bus garage.
Thanks for watching and commenting! That's a very interesting observation - something for us to look deeper into. Thanks again!
Wow! I live nearby and have biked all over these roads and have researched the route of the CGW myself, but you've added many details to what I knew, and provided a look at what I've only tried to imagine. Thank you for the exceptionally well done and informative video!
Thanks for the kind words and for watching the video! Very glad that you found it informative.
I moved to Byron in 1981 and I always thought that the CGW would have made an excellent bike trail. I did not know how the locals defeated the proposed bike trail. It does not make me happy to get the rest of the story. Thank you for following the CGW I am enjoying the series.
Thanks for watching and very glad that you are finding the series interesting. Makes it worthwhile!
Cannot find any of your videos after # 8…. To Pearl City…..I love the videos but I am lost!
Thanks once again for an excellent look at a part of the CGW. I never thought of it before but I had to wonder why the CGW never went into Freeport, especially since, as you said, Freeport wanted them to come in. & naturally, I was not happy about the failed bike trail. The trail here in Dubuque is a great benefit to the area. Looking forward to the next leg of your journey & excited that you are getting to Jo Davies County & the Dubuque area where I live.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, we wondered about that too, which got us looking for the answer, which we found in a series of newspaper articles from the early to mid 1970s. It would have made for an extraordinary and challenging trail through such scenic areas.
Thanks for this video! I wonder if the roundhouse site in Pearl City was still visible (I can locate it on Google Maps). It was there to help switch the trains to stronger engines in order to handle the much steeper grade as the CGW climbed towards NW Illinois. I hope you also find the great lost depot in Woodbine!
I believe what you believe was a round house is a temporary corn storage bin for the elevator that was built on the right of way east of the elevator after the rail road was abandoned.
@@leemiche5449 I think you're right. The roundhouse may have been a bit further west in East Stockton. I found some videos on a You Tube page by northernrailfan.
There was a large CGW facility at East Stockton, just to the east of Curtiss Road. East Stockton is likely the location you are thinking of. The former East Stockton location stood out on older aerial photos, but is not conspicuous on the present day satellite view.
When CGW dieselized in the late 1940's, the East Stockton facility was no longer needed and was abandoned.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Sounds like there is more to sort out here.
Before you visit the Winston/Aiken/Galena Jct segment, please check that those areas are not closed due to hunting. In Oct-Nov-Dec, there are scattered dates each year when non-hunters are not permitted in those public areas. The exact dates are listed in my follow up response below.
Keep up the good work. I especially enjoy the drone footage.
Thanks for watching and the excellent advice! Would not want to be shot at while checking out these areas. Or to make the drive to find out that they are closed.
@@BeHistoric Aiken is located directly on S. RIver Road and the former RIce location is located next to Blackjack Rd. Those two locations are accessible at any time.
However, if you are planning to Galena Jct,, that location is accessible to the public only by riding on the bike trail, either 2 miles from Aiken or 3.5 miles from Galena. Per VisitGalena, The Galena River bike trail is closed:
Oct. 8-10, 2022 - Youth firearm
Oct. 22-30, 2022 - Turkey season / firearm
Nov. 18-20, 2022 - Deer season / firearm
Dec. 1-4, 2022 - Deer season / firearm
Dec. 9-11, 2022 - Deer season / muzzleloader only
Dec. 29, 2022-Jan. 1, 2023 - Deer season / late winter antlerless only and special CWD
Jan. 13-15, 2023 - Deer season / late winter antlerless only and special CWD
The Winston Tunnel area, as far as I can tell, is closed during the deer firearms seasons, Nov 18-20 and Dec 1-4, but might also be closed during all of the Oct-Dec dates I have listed above. I do not think there was ever a station near The Tunnel itself, but I would be surprised if you skipped that location. I will likely visit in a couple weeks and share my findings.
Thank you for another informative video on locations of these three former Chicago Great Western Depots. There is some information in the book "Chicago Great Western: Depots Along the Corn Belt Route" by Joe Pierson and Jerry Huddelston that is published by the Chicago & North Western Historical Society about the Pearl City, Illinois CGS depot. The book indicates that the original depot was destroyed in a wreck in 1948. But then it goes on to say that the 22-foot by 55-foot depot was retired in 1955. This may mean that the depot was not destroyed but damaged and repaired in 1948. The concrete depot was built in 1953 or 1955 depending on sources. The concrete depot was 10-feet 4 inches by 35-feet 6 inches. The concrete depot was retired in 1968 and demolished in the 1990s. The drone views of the remains of the Crane Creek Bridge and the Spring Branch Bridge were added attractions to the video. The painting of the CGW Agent's residence at South Freeport, Illinois. Appears to be an exact rendition of the description of the Agent's residence that is given in the above-mentioned book. Within the last couple of days, I was thinking that is was about time for you to unload another video in your series on the Chicago Great Western depots.
Thanks for watching and your continual support of the channel! Thanks too for the additional observations. The 1953 local newspapers specifically say that the 1953 freight car derailment partially destroyed the depot. Another viewer sent along a few photosto us, which show the partially destroyed depot. We tend to believe the contemporary newspaper reports from 1953, as they are primary sources. Later in 1953, local newspapers report the dismantling of the original depot, salvaging its lumber. Perhaps there was earlier damage to the depot in the late 1940s - although we did not find any newspaper reports on that. But the story may be more complicated than we realize. So thanks for those additional sources of information!
@@BeHistoricBeHistoric The information in the CGW Depot Book is confusing. Under the date of 1948 there is information about the construction of a concrete building that is 10-feet by 35-feet. The next sentence talks about the construction of a concrete building taking place in 1953 or 1955. There is an additional 1948 line that says the depot was destroyed in a wreck. The next line has the date of 1955 with the description Retire depot 22-feet by 55-feet. Depot razed in 1990s. (The depot razed in the 1990s was the concrete depot.) The next line is dated 1966 and it has the notation Retire concrete depot.
This information was found in Chicago Great Western AFEs (Authorization for Expenditure) that Joe Pierson used to create a database on the CGW depots. I believe that these AFEs are in the Archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society.
@@thomasmackowiak Thanks for providing that interesting additional information regarding the Pearl City depot. Will have to go back and see whether there was anything that happened in the 1948 timeframe. Thanks again!
@@thomasmackowiak BTW, the newspaper article describing the freight train derailment that partially destroyed the depot was from May 14, 1953 (Belvidere Republican). The dismantling of the wrecked depot newspaper article was from late November, 1953 (Freeport Journal Standard).
@@BeHistoricThe information in the Chicago Great Western Depot book must be inaccurate. I have no idea what if anything happened in 1948. When I initially read the information about the Pearl City, Illinois depot, I was confused as to when the original depot was destroyed. It is obvious from the information in the Belvidere, and the Freeport newspapers that the Pearl City, Illinois depot was destroyed in 1953. I know one of the people who works in the Archives of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society. I will contact him and let him know that there is a problem with the information in the CGW Depot book and what is reported in the two newspapers. He may be able to look in the CNWHS Archives to see what information in the Archives says.
From Bolton to Pearl City, at the east end of Lorain road, is a wooden tressel used by CGW I have pics.
Wow! That's very interesting. Is that possibly going over Lost Creek, to the east of MillGrove Road? It looked like there was something on the satellite photos there, but we weren't sure. We would love to see the photos. Can you possibly share via our email, at brian@behistoric.org
@@BeHistoric try to
@@BeHistoric I'll try to send you pics.
@@BeHistoric I sent pictures of the bridge to Brain. Thank you.
Hi, I haven't seen the email yet. Did you send to brian@behistoric.org. ??
starting day 2 of re-watch this series - RE: the Yellow Creek Bridge i believe you are at the wrong bridge there are 2 bridges one between Bower Rd and Mill Grove Rd (Yellow or Lost)- and doesnt seem to have a bridge anymore .. the concrete bridge you are showing seems to be the Spring Branch Bridge between Mill Grove and Schuman Rd
Yes, this was the bridge north of Loran Road over the Spring Creek - that's the one we saw, recorded, and commented on. In the video we said, "We’ll then travel a little more than a mile, crossing over Yellow Creek. We then turn right, heading west, onto Loran Road, and travel about a half mile, parking along the road to the south of the bridge site." And so we crossed over Yellow Creek on our way to this bridge - but the bridge was the one north of Loran Road. We didn't mention Spring Creek, however. Thanks for commenting!
@@BeHistoric ok i know where i messed up i got my North and south confused somehow i got it you were driving north on S Mill Grove ... but you were going South that bridge goes over a crick stream looking thing that is called Spring Branch (not even labeled creek) Per topo maps and Google earth/maps .. just a 100 feet to the north it empty's into Yellow Creek ... there was a bridge over Yellow Creek but it looks like it was removed or maybe collapsed its just to the east .. if you would have made a left onto Loran and not a right on Loran after (its a jog road) i see enough on aerials to want to see it for my own eyes as ... it looks wired .. the bridge is gone for sure over the water .. but it looks like there might still be a bridge on the east side of Yellow Creek .. a long flat section
@@brianberthold3118 Yes, it's difficult to see some of the smaller bridges and culverts, unless they are out in the open. If you can find an aerial taken in the late autumn or early spring, then you can see more - but those aren't always available. We've passed over a few artifacts that were hiding in the woods, as we couldn't see them on the aerials and so didn't know they were there. A few viewers have pointed some of these out to us - which is great.