Iowa Interstate Coal Train 10-29-17


Sunday afternoon, I was able to chase an Iowa Interstate coal train PECR (Peoria IL to Cedar Rapids IA) from Bridge Junction in Peoria to Mossville. 

The train, loaded at the Shay Mine near Carlinville, Illinois, arrived here on Norfolk Southern, and a trio of NS motors (#'s 2593, 7716 and 9961) led two Iowa Interstate units (#'s 153 and 514) with 93 loads. In Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway will deliver it to Archer Daniels Midland Co's co-generation plant. 

Scenes are at the old (1900) Rock Island depot, the new (1967) Rock Island depot, rolling through the Limit Yard (from the on-ramp off N. Adams Street to eastbound US 24) and at Sankoty (whole train). 

- David P. Jordan

Comments

  1. ShawnOctober 31, 2017 at 5:20 AM

    David,
    Does UP still server the Shay Mine from its branch that diverts off the Springfield Subdivision south of Girard? Has UP or C&NW ever owned or bid for the ADM contract? I would think the UP could move the train with fewer crews than NS+Iowa Interstate and would be great for the traffic thin Peoria Sub.
    Shawn Woessner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David P. JordanOctober 31, 2017 at 8:32 PM

      Union Pacific has access, but apparently hasn't served then-Monterey Mine loaded two 90-car coal trains for Duck Creek Station near Canton each week. I believe the mine closed in December 2007. Since it reopened as the Shay Mine, only Norfolk Southern has served it.

      I'm thinking that ADM prefers IAIS get a share of the Cedar Rapids coal business, thus the original CN-Peoria-IAIS(-Iowa City-CIC) and now the present NS-Peoria-IAIS routing. Union Pacific would probably charge higher rates anyway, even for single-line service (absorbing Crandic delivery charges at destination).

      Delete
  2. ShawnNovember 2, 2017 at 6:00 AM

    Who currently owns the Duck Creek Station and Edwards Station contracts? What is the frequency of delivery?
    Shawn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David P. JordanNovember 2, 2017 at 8:19 PM

      BNSF delivers up to two 135-car coal trains per week to Duck Creek, though probably only during peak cooling and heating cycles.

      Until the end of 2017, Union Pacific is delivering 135-car coal trains to Edwards Station, reportedly 3-4 per week. BNSF has snatched this business, and is expected to begin running trains on or shortly after January 1, 2018. TP&W has long had access to this plant, so it is expected to handle the final leg of the journey. Trains will be interchanged somewhere on TZPR trackage, either via a coordinated meet in Peoria or perhaps TZPR's two-track Pekin mainline.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bartlett Grain Co. LP to Build Elevator on UP Peoria Sub!

Image
Bartlett Grain Co. LP's Bureau County facility will be similar to its Canadian Pacific Kansas City-served South Jacksonville, Illinois facility, shown May 2, 2020.  Bartlett Grain Co. LP is planning to build a $50 million grain loading facility in Bureau County, Illinois. Media reports here and here  tells us Bartlett Grain will build on 155 acres east of Rt. 40 and north of Interstate 80 between County Roads 1700 and 1745 East. The complex, complete with a rail loop capable of loading up to 120 cars, will employ 25 to 30.  Rail service will be provided by the Union Pacific on its Peoria Subdivision, which runs from Nelson south to Barr. Grain will be shipped to Mexico.  - David P. Jordan
Read more

Black Band Distillery Expands to ex-Cat Tire!

Image
Black Band Distillery, presently operating at 1000 SW Adams Street, is planning to expand to the vacant property at 2400 SW Washington Street. That is according to WCBU News .  Although the article omits it, this property has a long history with the local distilling industry. National Cooperage & Woodenware Co. constructed a plant there in 1900, though a predecessor apparently had begun barrel making operations there c. 1885. This firm survived Prohibition (1920-1933) because the barrels could also be used for packing corn syrup, condensed milk, cider, vinegar, liquid chemicals, flavoring extracts, etc. Hiram Walker & Sons, which purchased one-third to one-half of its production, gained control of National Cooperage in 1946. A new four-story expansion began in the fall of 1964 only to be destroyed by a tornado on September 14, 1965. Operations resumed at the start of 1966 and the entire plant was replaced in 1967-1968.  Changing economics led to closure in 1972. Caterp...
Read more

Union Pacific's LPD01 Derails Due to Vandals 11-18-24!

Image
Union Pacific's LPD01 job leaves and departs Adams Street Yard in Peoria on July 1, 2024.   I hope the judge makes an example of these two clowns!   Union Pacific's LPD01 job was either going to or returning from Collier Yard to work the Keokuk Junction Railway and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway interchanges. Damage to the locomotive explains why Adams Street Yard and the adjacent Low Line are still full of cars.    Peoria County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page:    Train Derailment Arrests Peoria County Incident #24-7190   (Peoria County, IL) - On Monday, November 18th, 2024, at approximately 3:00 pm, Peoria County Sheriff's Deputies were notified by the Bartonville Police Department of an incident where BPD officers had two males detained for derailing a train near the train crossing on Sanitation Rd (100 block) just outside of Bartonville. The Union Pacific Locomotive Engineer saw the males near the derailing device and called Bartonvil...
Read more