Peoria Area Train Action - March 10, 2018

Saturday was a good day.

That morning, I noticed three UP units moving toward Peoria. I quickly concluded I couldn't catch them before the Brauer Road crossing, but did notice this empty grain train waiting to depart. I turned around and found a good sunny location. I'm assuming that this train was bound for Rock River Lumber & Grain at Sterling. At W. Alta Road, UP motors 5472 and 6268 led 75 cars with 5834 as DPU.



My intent Saturday morning was to reach Springfield and wait for the passage of a second Union Pacific blade train that was passing through St. Louis after sunrise. I parked near Springfield's Amtrak depot and waited. Almost immediately, Amtrak 301, the Lincoln Service train from Chicago to St. Louis, coasted to its scheduled stop. Amtrak's new SC-44 "Charger" locomotives are being assigned to these trains this month. No. 4604 has an all-Horizon Fleet consist. 



Minutes after 301's departure, Amtrak 22, the San Antonio to Chicago Texas Eagle, pulled in (301 and 22 passed on the triple-track joint line between Iles and Hazel Dell). Amtrak P42DC No. 3 has nine cars. 



Union Pacific wind turbine blade train SBRPUW (Special, Brighton CO to Peoria IL Wind) is shown at three locations between Springfield and South Pekin, Illinois on Saturday afternoon, March 10, 2018 - Cantrall (via Illinois & Midland Railroad trackage rights), Barr and Allen Station. Union Pacific locomotives 2593 and 6204 pull 36 blades on 72 cars. The train was going to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in East Peoria. 



The three UP motors seen Saturday pulled the empty flats from last week's first blade train from TZPR's East Peoria Yard. The train crew pulled across the river and then returned to home rails, ran the Low Line and out onto the mainline. It appears that one unit was placed on the rear and that the train pulled south, crossed the river at Pekin and tied up just short of Chester L Road. The crews were reportedly planning to swap trains, but the sun had set and I bid adieu.

Finally, I caught Canadian National's Peoria Local (L56491) near South Pekin. Lone CN 2118 has 34 cars.


- David P. Jordan

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