Peoria Station

After I left the downtown library, I checked to see if BNSF's M-PEIGAL was in the East Peoria Yard, but could not find it. I did notice a headlight down toward Iowa Junction so I circled back via I-474 and found a couple of orange geeps on the point of a covered hopper train waiting at Kickapoo Yard (with the train stretched into Bartonville). Shortly, the crew asked for permission from Iowa Junction to the East Lead.   The first 28 cars are probably phosphate empties returning to Florida via TP&W and CSX. The 26 loads are some kind of dry bulk fertilizer, possibly urea. These could be going to the Iowa Interstate, TP&W or both.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Lead 2 rolls by Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois early evening Friday, August 15, 2025. TPW 5010 and IMRR 2108 have 54 cars (28 empties/26 loads). Dry fertilizer loads and empties were pulled from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC, located south of Bartonville.   - David P. Jordan

Since TP&W pulled an empty herbicide tank car from Fort Transfer at Morton late-Monday night, I figured it might be on Canadian National's L557 today.    It was not.   I doubt TP&W delivered the car to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in time for it to make L557's Tuesday run. I could be wrong because I did not see that the CN train that day.   Thursday's train was short, but the empty gondola is encouraging, indicating CN is originating scrap metal for Liberty Steel & Wire Co. again.   CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad double track Pekin main at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois at sunset Thursday, August 14, 2025. CN 8830, CN 5654, CN 8920 and CN 2313 have eight cars. - David P. Jordan

In July and through the first full week of August, it seemed like Norfolk Southern was running its weekday, Good Yard-based local to East Peoria Tuesdays and either Thursday or Friday. But with this second full week in August, they have operated so far on Monday and Wednesday. If they do it on Friday, I'll start to believe NS is trying to provide service to the TZPR interchange three times a week. Perhaps crews are now available to operate D32 and D36 between Decatur and Normal more frequently?  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown on its return leg to Good Yard in Normal, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, August 13, 2025. First scene is at Main Street as it moves from Tazewell & Peoria RR to TP&W property at P&PU Junction in East Peoria. Shortly, it is shown on home rails after ducking under TP&W's Farmdale Trestle. NS 7035 has NS 5194, enroute from Des Moines to Decatur for its 92-day inspection, and 26 cars...

When I exited westbound I-74 toward E. Washington Street this afternoon, I happened to notice Norfolk Southern's D49 local power and cars behind it. I wasn't expecting to see it on Monday, but perhaps more Liberty Steel & Wire traffic is requiring more frequent East Peoria runs.    I hope so.    D49 used to make the East Peoria trip to interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad five days a week. Of course, Decatur-Normal connecting locals D32/D36 used to cycle daily, but apparently do not anymore for lack of crews.    Today's train had the usual plastic pellet traffic from the Illinois & Midland RR, coiled wire rod, steepwater, alcohol and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid loads from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and coil steel empties from Iowa Interstate. The truck coil springs on the four AEX covered hoppers were open, i. e. empty. Makes me wonder if The Andersons (AEX) Clymers, Indiana ethanol plant is routing DDGS/Mash to t...

The year 2002 marked PIA's return to the top as Central Illinois' busiest passenger air facility. As soon as 2003 dawned, however, threats of service cuts increased as the airline industry reeled from a shaky economy, financial losses, terror threats and new regulations. The year offered a lot of drama, so I'll analyze each carrier's service and end with a bright spot which continues to the present day. AMERICAN CONNECTION (Trans States Airlines) Having been relegated to secondary status (i. e., not part of the American Eagle network), former TW Express carrier Trans States Airlines was limited to providing "American Connection" feeder service to American Airlines' St. Louis hub.  American Airlines' rationale for acquiring TWA was in part to gain a reliever hub to Chicago-O'Hare, which had a cap placed on flights during the tumultuous summer of 2000. American's idea may have worked if not for 9-11 and the subsequent air travel slumps. Cutbacks ...

I left work this afternoon for the downtown library but first checked East Peoria for any rail action. No Norfolk Southern D49, but BNSF's M-PEIGAL was in the yard. I soon heard some radio chatter that told me the Keokuk Junction Railway's Kolbe-East Peoria Turn had been given permission to run the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad from Iowa Junction to East Peoria. But after crossing the river, I saw it about to enter Bridge Junction. Apparently, the train was already enroute or I took longer to get across the river than I thought. Oh well, the train had only six cars.    Not long afterward, I heard the BNSF crew ask for head room to grab cars from Track A-27. That told me I had time to go to the library (and get copies of those articles I posted for today's THIS DAY IN HISTORY). I left the library early to check on the BNSF train. About 1730 hours, the crew asked permission to depart for Darst Street. Minutes laterm the KJRY crew asked to follow the BNSF train. So I crosse...