The Galena River Trail had its birth in 1886, shortly after the
Burlington Railroad main line came through northwest Illinois along
the upper Mississippi River.
The
3.5 mile railroad spur, upon which the trail is now built, connected
the City of Galena to the Galena Junction at the main railroad line
along the Mississippi River.
The
original railroad tracks were recycled from previous tracks and
were of different size and condition. Some
of the old train signal foundations are still located along the
trail. You may see them between the railroad bridge underpass and
the stop sign where the trail adjoins South Park Avenue.
The
railroad spur was used for passenger service until the 1940s but
continued for freight until about 1960.
Old
meets new: the Galena River Trail passes under
the Canadian National Railroad bridge.
