The Paxton Railroad Cut has perhaps the most unique features including its many bridges in a city with no streams or rivers. From 1923 to 1925, the Illinois Central Railroad dug a railroad cut through the heart of Paxton. Paxton’s position at the top of a high rise made it difficult for old steam engines to chug through town.

 

The cut also eliminated dangerous, street-level grade crossings. The railroad dug a trench 40 feet deep at places and four tracks wide. The tracks were then refitted at the bottom of the cut. Five bridges for autos and two-foot bridges were built to span the crevice.

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In the late 1990s, the Pells Street and Patton Street bridges were replaced and a new bridge was built at Holmes Street.  The bridges at State and Center and the pedestrian bridge at Franklin Street were removed.