Union Pacific MPECL 3-11-22 (More Drama!)



Another Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) and more drama.

The video above shows it rolling by the old Molitor Junction area (MP 80) around 4:22pm today (Friday). UP 8878 has 51 cars. The crew informed the dispatcher that they needed a warrant to work between Pottstown and MP 70 so they could double Pioneer Hill and re-assemble the train. 

Unlike Tuesday's 76-car train of mostly empties, Friday's had 33 corn syrup loads, some of which were probably left behind by Tuesday's train. The solo unit, an SD70ACe, wasn't enough for all traffic, so some more cars were left behind, as is done most days due to TPA (Tonnage-Per-Axle) limits. But a larger number of loads means the train has insufficient power to conquer Pioneer Huill, so they must cut the train in two (probably just south of the start of double track at Pottstown) and re-assemble it.

This drama is time-consuming, and also means that some traffic sits for four more days. A second unit could avoid these issues (if the railroad even cares). It appears the Peoria Subdivision is a bit of a challenge for Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR)!

- David P. Jordan

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