Friday was a good day (NS, KJRY, BNSF and UP Action)!


This morning, I caught Norfolk Southern’s D49 train departing East Peoria. NS 6172, NS 5317 and NS 9464 have TP&W 3878 (probably enroute to Metro East Industries in E. St. Louis, IL) and 51 cars. Scenes are at N. Main Street (1:20) and Farmdale (whole train). TP&W 3878 was the last unit in the area painted in RailAmerica’s red, silver and blue “Captain America” scheme. Its departure was bound to happen eventually.


While D49 prepared for departure, Norfolk Southern grain train 54E was getting ready as well. It departed East Peoria about 1.5 hours after D49. Here it is at Goodfield with UP 8883, NS 5329, NS 9454 & NS 7212 and 85 cars of corn loaded at Des Moines, Iowa (Iowa Interstate acts as haulage agent from there to Peoria).

 
After capturing the NS grain train, I spent some time in Bloomington then decided to return home. I'm glad I did because I caught three departing freights in succession. First was the Keokuk Junction Railway local departing East Peoria with the world-famous A-B-A set of F units and GP20 2003 pulling 16 cars at S. Darst Street in Peoria. Note the ex-Rock Island covered hopper. 


BNSF's M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) actually left East Peoria around the same time as D49 but tied up on the New Long Main to re-arrange power. An empty coal train parked next to it on the main track because the crew's hours of service expired at 1030. Both trains were re-crewed by mid-afternoon with the empty coal departing first, the M-PEIGAL about 30 minutes later. I caught the latter at W. Farmington Road. What a cool power lash-up. BNSF 557, BNSF 2889, BNSF 334, BNSF 1520, BNSF 2660 & BNSF 1578 and 35 cars. This includes the A-B-A geep set that worked the same train May 4-5 this year. 


Finally, I caught Union Pacific's regular Friday MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) at Akron (just north of Peoria). UP 8628 & UP 3903 have a healthy 60 cars. It appears track speeds have returned to 40 mph, at least in this spot. 

- David P. Jordan

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