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TZPR Industry Job, Union Pacific Coal MTs, Iowa Interstate PESI 12-20-24

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After work this afternoon, I headed toward the downtown library as usual, but radio chatter lured me to my first of three encounters.   A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job was at BioUrja Renewables' South Yard (crews and dispatchers still call it "ADM South Yard") asking permission to shove back out to Bridge Junction and then cross the river. A problem with a switch, signal, or some hardware was delaying this movement momentarily, which enabled me to get into position just in time.    Libery Steel & Wire Co's temporary (hopefully) suspension of operations most certainly has decreased business handled by the old "Kickapoo Job." Alter Metal Recycling has been sending processed scrap metal to new markets, though, in place of short-haul switch movements. Most of this seems to be moving via the Iowa Interstate to a consignee in the Chicago area.    The TZPR local train was probably switching one of the asphalt terminals (Interstate Asphalt Co...
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United [Express] Resumes PIA-DEN Mar. 30! UPDATED.

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An Embraer 175 in the old colors on final approach to Chicago-O'Hare Intl Airport May 26, 2023 Central Illinois residents will soon be able to connect through Denver year-round. United Express will resume nonstop daily service between Peoria and Denver on March 30, 2025. The last time the carrier played this market was in early 2015.  This WEEK-TV News 25 article and video has good details. Departure to Denver will be at 0850. The return flight will arrive back here at 2050. The single-daily roundtrip will be operated on a 76-seat jet, most likely an Embraer 175 operated by SkyWest Airlines. A burning question is what will Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines do? The former offers seasonal service between Peoria and Denver on Mondays and Fridays. The airline is offering Saturday flights on December 21 and 28, and January 4 as well. Flights cater to the local market, and mostly budget-conscious leisure travelers. So United Express' daily service might have but a minor effect on ...
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Keokuk Junction Railway Local 12-17-24

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Monday afternoon, I saw Union Pacific's MPECL parked on the Low Line adjacent Adams Street Yard and decided to check in case it might be late. No luck on that but the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn was waiting at Iowa Junction to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property. Short train, but always a nice one to catch.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Krause Avenue in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, December 17, 2024. LTEX 6437, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3836 have 15 cars for TZPR's East Peoria Yard.   - David P. Jordan
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BNSF M-GALPEI, TP&W EP-X

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Just before leaving work this afternoon, I received a heads up that BNSF Railway's M-GALPEI was heading through Yates City and then Elmwood a short time later. So I decided to intercept it.  I swung around Kickapoo Creek Road with Harmon Highway in view and sure enough, and me and the train met moments later. I had to wait awhile for it to receive permission to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at S. Darst Street.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois for the final leg to East Peoria late-afternoon Monday, December 16, 2024. BNSF 8287 and BNSF 3813 have 19 cars. Local railroads were busy tonight. Once M-GALPEI got clear in the yard, a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local with TZPR 1351 had permission from the East Lead (in East Peoria) to Iowa Junction, presumably a PM Yard/Lead Job with cars for Alter scrap yards, and perhaps Peoria River Ter...
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TP&W M-EFEP 12-15-24

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My motto is still intact - If you get a chance to see a TP&W manifest, take it!   I learned that a westbound was by Chatsworth at 12:44 this afternoon, so I decided to head east and intercept. As soon as I turned left onto a north-south road on Gridley's west edge, the flashers activated and the gates lowered. Today's train was unusually short - 15 corn loads for Peoria or Pekin processors, and a plastic empty. Perhaps they needed the power here for the next eastbound? CAPTION:   Toledo, Peoria & Western train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) rolls through and near several towns Sunday afternoon, December 15, 2024. Locations at west of Gridley, at El Paso, Secor, west of Secor, Cruger, Washington and Ernest Street, just southwest of Washington. TPW 5010, TPW 5008 and TPW 3441 have 16 cars.    - David P. Jordan
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TZPR Pekin Local, BNSF M-PEIGAL 12-14-24

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Recently, I noticed Incobrasa Industries covered hoppers at Alto Pekin LLC's wet corn mill elevator, indicating TP&W is borrowing these cars for general service to online elevators or Inco Grain Ltd. is loading for for Alto at its Goodland, Indiana elevator.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local from Pekin is shown at Wesley (Creve Coeur), Illinois moments from arriving the East Peoria Yard on a cold and soggy mid-afternoon Saturday, December 14, 2024. TZPR 1352 has 16 cars. I received a heads up on BNSF's M-GALPEI too late to see it arrive Peoria, but was able to catch M-PEIGAL's run back west. I don't know if this was a third cycle for the week, or if Thursday's train was delayed until Saturday. Either are possible.  CAPTION: After crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge, BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) curves toward Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois on a cold and soggy mid-aft...
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Viridis Chemical Co. to Build Ethyl Acetate Plant in Peoria!

Peoria is getting a new industry. Even better, a new rail user. In a press release dated November 25 , Viridis Chemical Co. confirms its plan to move an ethyl acetate plant from Columbus, Nebraska to Peoria.  The new Peoria site, situated on the Illinois River, offers key logistical advantages. In addition to the adjacency to BioUrja, the location includes access to all major rail lines and barge-navigable routes connecting to the Mississippi River. The site’s proximity to Viridis’ core ethyl acetate customers in the Midwest and Northeast, combined with its superior logistics and storage capabilities, will position Viridis for enhanced operational efficiency and customer service. Yesterday, the Peoria City Council approved Viridis' plan after it agreed to certain conditions. The  reason to move  was that that the existing plant had been supplied ethanol from BioUrja Renewables LLC's Peoria plant for two years, so it made sense to be closer to its supplier.  The new ...
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