Local Railroad Supports Wind Farm (Updated 2X)

For the first time in several years, wind turbine components will be arriving East Peoria by train. 

The Walnut Ridge Wind Farm will erect up to 106 towers this fall between in Bureau County, Illinois. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (TZPR) is part of the logistics chain that will see components arrive on flat cars. 

A large section of railroad property in East Peoria is being prepared for the project. Cranes are on site (see photo) that will be used to unload components from railcars and re-load them to specially-equipped trucks which will haul them to the construction site.

In past years, the Toledo Peoria & Western Railway's East Peoria Yard has been used for this purpose. Sister TZPR's facilities must be a better fit for the latest local wind energy project, and a good indication that components will arrive on multiple carriers.

UPDATE (Feb. 22) - The first wind turbine components train just departed Villa Grove, Illinois on the Union Pacific. It will be delivered at Watseka to the Toledo Peoria & Western Railway, which will bring it to East Peoria.

UPDATE (Feb. 24) - Flooding at Watseka has prevented the train from being delivered to the TP&W. 

Here are some past scenes of trains hauling wind turbine components into and through the area.

Shot between Eureka and El Paso on February 16, 2008 I caught TP&W handling 33 cars of a 64-car tower train delivered to East Peoria by BNSF Railway that morning. It is bound for the Hoosierlift near Remington, Indiana. 

I found this TP&W train May 1, 2009 approaching Bartonville after it had been delivered by the Union Pacific Railroad at nearby Sommer. Fifty-three cars of blades, hubs and nacelles will be unloaded at East Peoria. 

On May 18, 2009 Union Pacific delivered this 61-car tower train (including a rear buffer car) to TP&W. Scene shot at Bridge Junction in Peoria. 

On May 22, 2009 TP&W received another train of blades, hubs and nacelles from the Union Pacific. The 37-car train is shown entering Bartonville village limits. 

I finally caught a BNSF Railway wind turbine components train on June 5, 2009. A 52-car tower train originating at Pearland (Houston), Texas, the first scene is near St. Augustine, Illinois on BNSF's Brookfield Subdivision. Later, I caught the train on the Peoria Subdivision with scenes near Maquon and in Elmwood. This train was bound for the TP&W as well.

On October 3, 2009 I managed to chase a BNSF tower train from Galesburg to Peoria. The 54-car train is seen at both Maquon and Oak Hill. This one was also bound for the TP&W. 

- David P. Jordan