Fox River Crossing

Fox River Crossing, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

This is the former Chicago Great Western railroad bridge over the Fox River, in St. Charles, Illinois. Originally part of CGW's mainline to Oelwein, Iowa, this line became a secondary route after the CGW was bought by the Chicago and North Western (another classic Midwestern road), which gradually cut the line shorter and shorter. Latterly part of the Union Pacific system, this line ended a few miles west of the bridge, dead ending just before a highway crossing. Today it's unused, the last customer on that side of the Fox having closed in 2009, and today the rails are cut off from the rest of the system by road construction on Route 64, which tore up the tracks at the grade crossing and which have not been reinstated.

Abandoned in place, the bridge and the tracks that are still there are some of the few remaining CGW structures in the area, which includes a few repurposed stations to the east and another bridge further west. One of the biggest legacies of the CGW is the Great Western Trail, a bike path that uses the former right of way, including that westernmost bridge in Elburn.

The Tower

The Tower, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

The Art Moderne City Hall building in downtown St. Charles, with it's distinctive white clock tower. Situated along the Fox River, the building serves as an anchor to the downtown area, as well as a center for municipal services.

Rapid Transit

Rapid Transit, a photo by William 74 on Flickr.

Former CTA 5000 series cars. These are, I believe, the sole survivors of just four built.

Snowfall on the Fox

Snowfall, originally uploaded by William 74.

I've been staying local lately, due to a bunch of things but mainly the weather. It's been alternately really cold, cloudy and grey, raining, or snowing. Generally just unpleasant weather for outdoorsy activities like driving places and taking pictures of them.

This is the Fabyan Lighthouse on a particularly dim, snowy day. I do like this one, though. I think it has a really old-timey feel, like a vintage postcard or a local history book in a particularly dusty corner of the town hall.

ETA:fixed link.