TP&W "Collier Turn," or EP1 - 12-5-22



I saw a report late this morning that BNSF's M-GALPEI had left Galesburg with BNSF 5488 and NS 9775 on the point, hoping it would take just enough time to deliver to TZPR in East Peoria, couple to (and build?) M-PEIGAL and be running as I drove over the SW. Adams Street Viaduct at 3:30 this afternoon. 

(It has happened like that before, why not again?)

Anyway, I didn't get my wish, but did come across a TP&W local on the Union Pacific's ex-PTCo line, stopped short of Iowa Junction. The crew radio'd the TZPR dispatcher and moved as soon as the conductor lined the switch. A BNSF coal train would follow it across the river. After that, the TZPR job would get its chance. 

Actually, I was lured there by radio chatter mentioning TZPR 1351 switching at Illinois Street. I was too late for that, but did notice a BNSF boxcar spotted inside the south end of Liberty Steel & Wire Co's Wire Mill. Incidentally, as the TP&W local (EP1) prepared to enter TZPR trackage, 1351 couple to its outbound train, which had an empty BNSF boxcar on the head end.

Zinc ingots from British Columbia...gotta love it!

TP&W pulled Mapleton cars and Union Pacific and Keokuk Junction Railway interchange from Collier Yard. This was one of the bigger examples of this train that I had seen recently. This was most due to numerous zinc oxide empties (marked SRIX) returning to the Waelz Sustainable Products plant at Clymers, Indiana. 


CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway "Collier Turn," or EP1 (East Peoria Day Switcher) is shown coming off of TP&W-dispatched but Union Pacific-owned ex-Peoria Terminal Company trackage at Iowa Junction. At this point, the train will run on sister Tazewell & Peoria Railroad to East Peoria and then a short distance on home rails to finish its day. TPW 2105 has 37 cars. Note in the distance TZPR 1351 coupling to a train at Kickapoo Yard. 


- David P. Jordan

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