Abandoned Railroad Trackage in Illinois

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Can anyone tell me if there is a right of way that runs south, south of Rochelle? I decided not to take the freeway coming back from there yesterday, and noticed a tree line that tended to run fairly directly between grain elevators that appeared to have been around for several years. I was wondering if that might be old Rock Island or some other railroad's trackage at some point in time.
Thanks in advance.

[Railzfan]

I know exactly what you are talking about, I saw it too on our way home last time. It is an abandon mainline that used to serve those grain elevators to the west. As for what railroad owned it, I have no idea. Sad to see that they are no longer served

[SW]

Charles, I checked my old Hammond 1925 atlas and it shows a CM&SP (Milwaukee Road) line that ran south from Stewart (off CB&Q / BNSF) thru Scarboro, Welland and on thru Mendota. It shows up on my old Conrail map from the 70's, but not on my Illinois hwy. map from 1991.

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Thanks, SW. I'd have been surprised if it was there by 1991, as the ROW was mainly marked by a lot of trees growing in a pretty straight line. Looked as though it paralleled the route I-39 was built through, as most of the parts I remember were within 3 miles of the interstate.

And Andrew, elevators to the west? I didn't make it too far west of Rochelle, the elevators I was referring to were either right off the North-South roads I was taking, or they were on the east side of the road...and I left Rochelle from the east side of town, following the BNSF line as it runs south and east.