Illinois tree tunnel A Burlington Northern local approaches a “tree tunnel” as it slowly makes its way eastbound east of Shaws, Illinois, on June 10, 1984. BN operated this former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy branch from Sterling to Earlville, Illinois, known as the 10th Subdivision Branch Line of the Chicago Division. By this date, traffic was dwindling and track deteriorating, so soon, trains would not be running. The 46.8-mile long branch line would be torn up in 1985.
