Keokuk Junction Rwy. Local 3-25-22



The Keokuk Junction Railway local was reported at Bartonville at 5:00 this afternoon. When I left the downtown library, I decided to check it out, and found it after 6:00 having just finished making a set out at Collier Yard. The crew received permission from TZPR to make the run to East Peoria, noting a restriction on handling empty cars due to a wind advisory in effect until 7:30. Of course, they wouldn't leave East Peoria with the mostly (or all) empty train. 

CEFX 2014 and CEFX 2022 have 24 cars. The 5th through 7th cars are loaded ALAB-marked covered hoppers, which I hope contain corn germ consigned to ADM's West Plant in Decatur. I understand that earlier this year, corn germ was being trucked from Keokuk! I had hoped this was a temporary situation due to unknown (to me) issues. Volume is something like 900 or so carloads per year, so that would be a huge blow to KJRY to lose this business. 

Also of note, the 9th and 10th cars are probably loaded with organic grain shipped from Burnside, Illinois. The other 19 are corn syrup or sorbitol loads. It is possible that all 24 are going to Norfolk Southern (which means moving on Monday's local D49).  

- David P. Jordan

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