Savanna to Aurora

From the crossover and yard at Savanna (MP 143.7), where Two Main Tracks, CTC, replaces the DT, TWC, ABS, a turn to the south-southeast and the junction with the Galesburg line heading south-southwest at Plum River (MP 142.3), where the 2MT reduces to single track, CTC, speed limit 60 mph, but with local speed restriction 35 mph to MP 142.0, the line passes a grade crossing, turns east past two grade crossings, and then south-southeast, past a grade crossing, the 6,950 ft. siding at Burke (MP 138.5), and a grade crossing, just south of due east past two road bridges overhead, the former crossing with an erstwhile Milwaukee Road line, and a road bridge carrying SR 78 overhead, just north of due east past a grade crossing, a detector at MP 132.3, and Daggets, east-southeast past three grade crossings, the 7,035 ft. siding at Chadwick (MP 129.4), a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, a grade crossing, and the 6,980 ft. siding at Milledgeville (MP 122.5), where SR 40 crosses, east past a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, two grade crossings, additional track at Hazelhurst (MP 117.9) and the 6,720 ft. siding at Carter (MP 116.0), and east-northeast, past two grade crossings and Pine Road bridging overhead, to additional track at Polo (MP 111.9), where an erstwhile Illinois Central line once crossed.

The line turns curvily east past US 52 bridging overhead, a road bridge overhead, a detector at MP 111.3, three grade crossings, the 7,260 ft. siding at Stratford (MP 107.4), a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, a grade crossing, and a road bridge overhead, leading to a 45 mph speed restriction from MP 102.3, where the line jogs north with Burlington Road bridging overhead, and then east again, past a grade crossing, SR 2 bridging overhead, the 7.235 ft. siding and junction with the 6.8 mile line from Mt. Morris trailing in on the north side at Oregon (MP 98.4), a bridge over the Rock River, a nd Daysville Road bridging overhead, a jog southeast and a turn just south of due east, past two more grade crossings, to MP 95.8, where the speed restriction ends, and then past a detector at MP 95.5, Honey Creek, a grade crossing at Rocky Hollow Road, the 7,045 ft. siding at Chana (MP 92.4), with a grade crossing in the siding, and a grade crossing with Stone Hill Road.

There is a turn east-southeast, four grade crossings, a grade crossing with Fowler Road, a grade crossing, the junction with the 23 mile line south from Rockford trailing in on the north side at Flag Center (MP 86.3), where Two Main Tracks, CTC, start (35 mph on the turnout) and there is a grade crossing with Flag Road, a 45 mph speed restriction from MP 84.4 to MP 83.9, a 35 mph speed restriction from MP 83.9 to MP 83.7, for the angled flat crossing with the double track former Chicago & Northwestern Chicago to Omaha line, where there is a railfan pavilion in the east vee of the crossing (north side of the line), and a grade crossing just east of the pavilion, at Rochelle (MP 83.2), with a 45 mph speed restriction from MP 83.7 to MP 82.2, as the line turns east, past a bridge carrying SR 251 overhead, and then south, past a bridge over I-88a grade crossing with Richie Road, and a grade crossing, a grade crossing with Steward Road, and a grade crossing with Perry Road.

An erstwhile Milwaukee Road line once headed south at Steward Junction (MP 77.9), where  single track, CTC, resumes (35 mph on the turnout), and the line turns east-southeast with a 40 mph speed restriction from MP 77.9 to MP 77.4, past Steward (MP 77.3) and a bridge carrying I-39 overhead, and three more grade crossings, and curving gently around to the south-southeast, past a grade crossing, a grade crossing with County Line Road at Lee, a detector at MP 71.3, and a grade crossing with Lee Road, turning east past a grade crossing, a road bridge overhead, the 10,825 ft. siding at Shabbona (MP 67.1), with a grade crossing in the siding, a bridge carrying US 30 overhead, US 30 alongside to the north, a grade crossing, a 40 mph speed restriction between MP 65.0 and MP 64.9 for the flat crossing with the former C&NW Peoria line, two grade crossings, a grade crossing atWaterman (MP 62.1),  three grade crossings, Mored, two grade crossings, a grade crossing at Hinckley (MP 55.1), a jog southeast and then east again, the 7,300 ft. siding at Big Rock (MP 50.2), with a grade corssing in the siding, a grade crossing and detector at MP 47.1, another jog southeast and then east again, the 5,700 ft. siding at Sugar Grove (MP 44.7), with a grade crossing with US 30 within the siding, and a detector at MP 43.3.

The line turns southeast, past two grade crossings and a grade crossing with Prarie Street (which had been running alongside to the south), with a 40 mph speed restriction starting at MP 40.0, and then just north of due east, with a branch from North Aurora trailing in on the north side, past a grade crossing with Edgelawn Driver, a bridge over an erstwhile Elgin, Joliet & Eastern/Milwaukee Road line and SR 31, the 5,035 ft. siding at Aurora Junction (MP 38.4), where the two track line from Galesburg trails in from the southwest, with signal bridges on both lines (and a 35 mph speed restriction on the junction from the Savanna line), forming a three track line, which crosses the Fox River on a deck girder bridge and then reduces to two tracks at crossovers with free-standing signals, crosses a bridge over a street below, passes the old CB&Q depot on the south side of the line, and turns northeast on an embankment that bridges over a number of streets (South Broadway Street, East Benton Street, East Downer Place, East Galena Boulevard, East New York Street, Spring Street) and passes the Aurora Transportation Center (MP 38.1, elevation 643 ft., located on North Broadway Avenue) on the west side of the line, the place where the commuter service to Chicago starts, with North Lincoln Avenue alongside to the east.