Gritty, Industrial Railroading - CN at Pekin's Riverway Business Park



Tuesday, June 23, 2020, offered me an opportunity to watch Canadian National Railway local L557 (E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) switching two customers at Pekin, Illinois' Riverway Business Park.

I found the train pausing along Route 29, which enabled me to wait off of N. 3rd Street in downtown Pekin for its passage. CN 5735 and KCS 5019 had departed the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard with 34 cars. 

The train stopped at the siding near Derby Street to twelve cars - two lumber loads for Amerhart Ltd., a coil steel load for Hanna Steel Corp., and nine grain empties. Switching operations begin at the 7:11 mark.

Final scene shows the now 43-car train at Fifth Street near South Pekin, where the nine grain empties will be setout.

Back in April, Canadian National implemented a new schedule for its local trains here. Northbound L556 runs from Decatur to E. Peoria Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Southbound L557 runs Tuesday and Thursday. Friday's L556 makes a roundtrip. 

- David P. Jordan

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