Sterling, IL: Junction Tower

1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

1965 photo on Flickr. You can also see part of the CB&Q steel girder deck bridge across the Rock River. This is one of 84 photos in his Interlocking Towers Album.

The junction tower seems to be lost among some trees or other little structures. The red rectangle is a bit of a guess. But we do know from the photo that it is in the southeast quadrant ofthe junction.

CB&Q terminated in Sterling, so it makes you wonder what type of industry was north of the river to justify the expense of the bridge. I does not appear as though it can interchange traffic with the C&NW.

Update: Joe Ikon posted two photos with the comment: "CB&Q before 1965 at Sterling/ Rock Falls , Illinois looking south at diamond with C&NW RR at Rock River Bridge."

Joe Novak Was the line from Paw Paw to Earlville added later then?

Dustin Holschuh Yes but the paw paw shabbona line was abandoned on the 30s.

Al Miller where did this line diverge from the main line through Shabbona?

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Joe Ikon commented on his posting
Jamey Young Correct, but then it traveled across the river and on to Denrock?