Peoria Station

After work, I apparently just missed Norfolk Southern train D49 on its return trip to Good Yard, and I learned that had I headed directly west on I-74/I-474 into Peoria, I might have caught a late-running Union Pacific MPECL. Good think I caught LPD01 on Monday afternoon with part of MPECL's Tuesday consist...   I did, however, catch a rare movement. That grain train TP&W delivered to HIlliards with CN power Monday afternoon turned out to be for Norfolk Southern, The "40N" symbol is last reported to be consigned to Norfolk, Virginia.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway unit grain extra 40N is shown climbing upgrade as it passes N. Main Street near Morton, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Train was loaded by TP&W-served Grainland Farmers at Cruger. NS 1038, NS 8027 and NS 8154 had 109 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I saw posts on this and hesitated to come into town, figuring I'd be too late. Turns out, I came in time. I still must get used to seeing those empty salt boxcars on Union Pacific. Looks like loads are delivered directly to TP&W at Collier Yard and empties are received via TZPR. The four scrap metal loads and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid tank car do not make regular appearances on these trains. As for the former, Alter Metal Recycling probably has excess scrap metal to ship to customers outside the area.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train LPD01 ("Peoria Wayfreight") eases to a stop at Darst Street late-afternoon Monday, March 30, 2026 so the conductor can detrain and line the switch before entering home rails. UP 7365 and UP 7006 have a healthy 50 cars (25 loads, 25 empties).   After the Union Pacific train crossed the river, TZPR's Industry 4 followed to run to the West Yard and switch BioUrja's Alcohol Tracks. I did not see this train, and I was waitin...

List, I went to Peoria via I-474 this afternoon and encountered two TZPR Industry Jobs heading back to East Peoria. Good thing Ozinga Cement Co. opened its barge-rail dock late last year, or today's train returning from Kickapoo Yard would have had but two cars!    The other, probably "Industry 1," has corn syrup empties from PMP Fermentation Products, alcohol loads and empties (the first with alcohol placards was empty, the others are possibly buffer cars) from BioUrja Renewables LLC and two Komatsu truck chassis loads. The first four cars, all tank cars, appear to be loads, and I assume the Iowa Interstate has recently left them at the North Limit Yard.  CAPTION: Two Tazewell & Peoria RR "Industry Jobs" roll across the Illinois River in quick succession enroute home mid-afternoon Friday, March 27, 2026. TZPR 1351, returning from Kickapoo Yard, has 14 cars for East Peoria. IMRR 43, returning from working the Uptown Subdivision, has 18 cars for East Peo...

After work, I was able to capture Norfolk Southerns D49 local on its way back to Good Yard. The train's consist was nothing unusual, but loads and empties are pretty identifiable.   The first five cars were loaded covered hoppers, two with ADMX markings. These contained some kind of grain product. Since ADM no longer operates its Peoria distillery (sold to BioUrja Renewables LLC in late-2021), these must have been received from the Iowa Interstate Railroad (from Cedar Rapids) or Union Pacific (Clinton).   The two NS gondolas were empty, and are probably in steel billet service. Recently, Norfolk Southern began delivering these to the Iowa Interstate (via TZPR). They reportedly originate down south for the Gerdau AmeriSteel mini-mill at Wilton, Iowa.    Sixteen more covered hoppers, many with ADMX markings, indicate a block of grain product loads from a connecting line, probably Iowa Interstate.    Then we have a single two-bay covered hopper. I beli...

Tazewell & Peoria Railroad mainline looking north from Caroline Street on March 22, 2026. Planned steel storage building and new rail siding will be at right. O'Brien Steel Service Co's existing facilities are at right.  We now have more information about O'Brien Steel Service Co's expansion plans into Detweiller Marina.  WMBD TV-31 covered it earlier this month when plans were revealed at a Peoria Park District meeting. The TV station posted an update on its website yesterday  after the Sierra Club hosted a meeting with community leaders. The article includes a photo of the plan, and confirms that a new rail siding will be built from the adjacent Tazewell & Peoria Railroad mainline to serve a relocated existing crane system and steel storage area. It isn't clear, however, if this will be enclosed or open. Based on the map, it could be either way.  Unfortunately, controversy appears to be the sole reason for media coverage, and only by one outlet. The Peoria...

The first gondola is empty. The AMFX covered hopper is used by BioUrja Renewables LLC, probably for outbound DDG (mash). The other three gondolas were loaded. Obviously not coiled wire rod. Scrap metal can usually be seen above the rim. My guess is steel billets.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, running from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, is shown at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois. After river traffic clears, the train crosses the Illinois River. TZPR 1352 and IMRR 43 have five cars. I had come through Peoria to see the fourth empty grain train delivered to IAIS since January. Interestingly, they received one in February and two so far (Friday morning) this month!  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. train PENT (Peoria IL to Newton IA) crosses the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge early-afternoon Sunday, March 22, 2026. Shortly, the train rolls by the Ft. of Chicago Street and BioUrja Renewables LLC's Peoria distillery. Train arrived...