Peoria Station

I saw Iowa Interstate train PESI this evening... Leaving the downtown library about 5:50 pm, but just before getting in my car, I heard a locomotive horn down by the riverfront. Naturally, I went to investigate. I saw the slow-moving freight from Hamilton Street, and immediately identified it as an Iowa Interstate train.  Evening shadows limited good spots for video, so I opted for those with full (or almost full shadows) for power runbys in downtown Peoria, The Narrows and another location a short distance north before capturing the whole train at the old San Koty area. IAIS 152 has 41 cars. The block of covered hoppers on the head end appeared loaded (I assume with distillers' grain mash) while there were also beverage, industrial and denatured alcohol loads. A block of potash empties bring up the rear.    - David P. Jordan

Two units seem to be the norm for MPECL these last few weeks. Save for September 20, longer consists are the likely reason.  I left home to catch Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) this afternoon. Radio chatter occurred around 1526 hours, and so I went straight to W. Farmington Road. Signal was green and my wait was brief.  UP 6365 and UP 7509 have 58 cars. Lots of boxcars on this one. - David P. Jordan

Two encounters this afternoon... On my way to the downtown library, I heard a crew ask permission to run from Farmdale to P&PU Junction and intot he north end of the TZPR's East Peoria Yard. Immediately, I knew this was a transfer from TP&W to TZPR. Problem was, I had just exited I-74 in downtown Peoria, so I had to go back across the river. Turns out, I had plenty of time. Honestly, I was hoping for a big transfer led by a lashup of two or three TP&W motors, but the last M-train (MEFEP) arrived Wednesday morning. Heavy transfer work would have been done yesterday. But it was neat to capture IMRR 43 and TPW 1538 negotiate the TZPR toward West Washington Street with 19 cars. Given that IMRR 43 is usually assigned to TZPR, I assume this has a TZPR crew.  I knew of another movement bound for our area. I even had time to look through several newspapers from June 1942 before intercepting it! Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is shown at both Mos...

As most Tuesday and Friday afternoons, I caught Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA), but it had already left Adams Street Yard when I drove by a little after 3:30.  The crew is on duty at 3:00, so it couldn't have left much earlier. Turns out, it had just entered Peoria Junction, and I got ahead of it at Pottstown as it entered the double track. UP 6365 and UP 7509 have 81 cars. There were lots of dry sorbent empties from Powerton on the rear, largely contributing to the train's unusual size.  - David P. Jordan

Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, September 23, 2022. UP 6365 and UP 7059 have 45 cars. - David P. Jordan 

Two encounters this evening... The KJRY has been owned by Patriot Rail for one week, and this was my first encounter with its local shortline in that time. There have been no known changes so far.  An eastbound TP&W local, probably the East Peoria-Collier Turn, rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge. TPW 1539 had just four cars. The train paused briefly to await dispatcher's permission to pass a dark signal on the east side. The Keokuk Junction Railway's Kolbe-to-East Peoria Turn is shown on its westbound run crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge. CEFX 2022 and CEFX 2014 had 18 cars. The KJRY has been owned by Patriot Rail for one week, and this was my first encounter with its local shortline in that time. There have been no known changes so far.  - David P. Jordan

I was torn between several potential encounters this afternoon. I never even made it to the downtown library... After work, I get into town as soon as possible since Union Pacific's MPECL crew is called for 1500 hours. Just before exiting I-474 for SW Adams Street, I noticed a TP&W local waiting at Iowa Junction and a TZPR switch crew working Collier Yard. Adams Street Yard was empty, but when I passed the entrance, I noticed a short train pulling in via the TZPR connection at Darst Street. Presumably, this was the LPD01 crew about to hand off to the road crew.  No sooner did I park off Darst Street, I noticed the approaching TP&W local, probably the East Peoria-Collier Turn. Video shows it rolling across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad bridge in mid-afternoon. TPW 2105 has 28 cars. At this point, I heard some chatter about a CN local (L557 runs to Decatur on Tuesdays) and that Iowa Interstate's SIPE was probably due shortly. My decision to follow the short UP train ...

  I had some errands to do before heading east Sunday for a long planned trip: Pay bills, oil change, etc.  On my way back through East Peoria, I came across some orange units working the west end of TP&W's East Peoria Yard. I got some lunch nearby, hoping for some action 15-20 minutes later if I lingered. I'm happy with the result: A TP&W-to-TZPR transfer rounds the curve before entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard early afternoon Saturday, September 10, 2022. IMRR 1550 and IMRR 43 have 64 cars (15 loads, 49 empties). I wasn't disappointed. Train likely has a Tazewell & Peoria RR crew because TZPR 1550 led a local from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria Friday and IMRR 43, which returned recently after getting new paint and [resumably] some mechanical work, is usually assigned to TZPR service. For railfans, the value of social media and smart phones is immense. I learned CN local L556, which I have been told usually makes a Decatur-to-Mo...

A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad "Industry Job" is shown late afternoon Friday, September 9, 2022 crossing the Illinois River. Enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, IMRR 1550 has eight wire rod loads from Liberty Steel & Wire Co's Bartonville steel complex. Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois late afternoon Friday, September 9, 2022. UP 6782 and UP 5345 have just 22 cars.  - David P. Jordan

I checked for the Union Pacific train (MPECL), but didn't see it. I gave up and decided to check on the Iowa Interstate's SIPE. I had a good reason. This is the first SIPE to run after a new alternate-day schedule has been implemented, replacing extras that ran any time of the day or night. SIPE is called for 1100 every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Counterpart PESI is called on Monday and Wednesday while an extraboard crew will relieve SIPE's Thursday's run.  Video shows SIPE rolling along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in downtown Peoria, Illinois late afternoon Tuesday, September 6, 2022. IAIS 501 and IAIS 702 have 93 cars.  - David P. Jordan

The downtown library was closed today, so I decided to try to catch Norfolk Southern Train D36 out of Good Yard with Rivian EV loads...and I did! Shipments have been increasingly common this summer. The journey has taken several years. Rivian Automotive purchased the Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America (MMMA) plant in early 2017. After extensive upgrades, brick-and-mortar expansion and new tooling, the plant began limited production of vehicles a year ago this month.  Norfolk Southern began hauling empty autoracks to Good Yard in spring 2021 in hopes that production would begin then. Delays caused by lack of critical components delayed large-scale production until recent months. The Normal plant is said to be able to produce 150,000 EVs per year, but will be lucky to do 25,000 in 2022.  With many of the supply chain issues eased, Rivian has decided to added a second assembly shift. Rivian builds larger vehicles than MMMA, so more autoracks will be needed even at less tha...

As usual, I tried capturing Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) closer to W. Farmington Road, but an early departure forced a serious modification of my plans. I drove by Adams Street Yard to find it empty. so I turned around, exit to I-474 and got off on Airport Road in hopes I could intercept the train before it reached my favorite spot (I've succeeded before doing this). This time, I could see the tail end as I entered Kickapoo Creek Road. I decided my best bet to capture this train was to head north on I-474 and Route 6. I intended to exit onto US 150 and make it to Pioneer Station (Brauer Road), but a long-winded traffic light, construction and heavy traffic forced a new plan: I'd get back on Route 6 and make my way to Akron. That plan succeeded. MPECL approached my location only minutes after I arrived. Video above shows it passing the Akron Services elevator late this afternoon. UP 5818 and UP 7059 have 48 cars, including eleven boxcars from the...