Peoria Station

I took a ("use it or lose it") floating holiday today, so I'm attempting to capture what I normally miss. My first success was Norfolk Southern's arriving local, D49. I went across the river shortly for lunch. When I returned less than an hour later, NS power was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, TZPR hadn't any cars for them, which seems odd for a Friday.  This afternoon's Union Pacific train MPECL will likely be a monster as Adams Street Yard is full of cars. I hope they leave before the storms hit... CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown late-morning Friday, March 31, 2023 shortly before arriving the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. NS 6122 and NS 6108 had 20 cars. Power apparently left engine lite less than an hour later. I chose between this one and Union Pacific's MPECL. TP&W operations are much less predictable, so I'm glad I got this. Turns out, I shot it in the last place...

When I saw an empty BNSF coal train entering home rails at S. Darst Street in mid-afternoon, I figured there'd be another chance to capture simultaneous train movements on both BNSF and UP Peoria Subs at W. Farmington Road. Sure enough, it happened, but I went to Pottstown to avoid being trapped by the coalie and unable the the UP, which was my priority. (You briefly see the coal hoppers at far right in my video.) Notable traffic on today's train included scrap metal loads from Hitchcock Scrap Yard's KJRY-served Canton transload facility.  It appears that quite a few cars were left behind at Adams Street Yard, which has been a common occurance lately. A weight per axle limit is the likely reason as a single locomotive is tasked to handle the train. Otherwise, it would stall across Reservoir Boulevard and force the crew to double the hill and re-assemble the train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) enters the double track at Pottstown, ...

A cloud bank killed good lighting, but at least I bagged this train!  BNSF Railway's H-IHBGAL the only pair of daily manifests running on the Chillicothe Subdivision east of the Cameron Connection, just southwest of Galesburg. A pair of locals, L-CHI104 and L-CHI105, work most weekdays between Galesburg and Willow Springs. On weekends, M-GALCHI and M-CHIGAL perform 104/105's work. All other movements are intermodal trains, with a few vehicle trains and  sprinkling of grain trains.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train H-IHBGAL (High Priority Manifest Indiana Harbor Belt to Galesburg IL) rolls by N. Rice Road just east of Princeville, Illinois early-afternoon Sunday, March 26, 2023. BNSF 608, BNSF 1118 and CP 2304 have 84 cars. - David P. Jordan

Just as I prepared to leave Morton, I could actually hear the Iowa Interstate dispatcher talking to a train crew on IAIS 714, issuing a track warrant from Peoria to Bureau Junction. Normally, I head straight to Adams Street Yard on Friday after work to check on Union Pacific's MPECL, but this time I went for the Limit Yard, heading north on Rt 29. I drove to Mossville but saw nothing. No matter, entering Rt. 6, I heard some chatter on the Union Pacific channel, prompting me to head for Pioneer at Brauer Road. Minutes later, MPECL showed up. Which goes to show that if I can't get one train, I can get another.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Pioneer, near the north end of the double track on Peoria, Illinois' northwest side late-afternoon Friday, March 24, 2023. UP 4203 has 56 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Another soggy and overcast day, but capturing unpredictable train movements remains a priority! I received a note from a friend that he'd seen Norfolk Southern's westbound local (D49) earlier this afternoon, so I figured I had a shot at seeing it leave. Sure enough, when I arrived TZPR's East Peoria Yard area, NS 6975 was on one of the Long Tracks. Minutes later, the crew radioed the dispatcher for permission to depart. I assume that either a late D32 from Decatur or time spent switching Rivian Automotive's ramp were possible reasons for the train's late turn to East Peoria.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 rolls out of East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on its return trip to Good Yard in Normal. NS 6975 has 34 cars (24 loads, 10 empties). TP&W yard is at left. As D49 left the area, I learned that TP&W's westbound road freight, M-EFEP had past Fairbury enroute to East Peoria. I spent a little time at the downtown l...

Despite the soggy and overcast weather this afternoon, I decided to check on Union Pacific's MPECL as I usually do every Tuesday (I'm usually out that day so why not?). A cut of cars was left behind, likely due to weight-per-axle issues due to having only one locomotive.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls across W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, March 21, 2023. UP 7662 has 48 cars. I decided to capture another of Union Pacific's Central Illinois region manifests - MBNAS. Tuesday is the only day of the week that both MPECL and MBNAS operate. The recent time change enabled me to see the latter, which typically departs south out of Bloomington around 6:00pm after northbound Amtrak No. 318 clears. So I decided to give it a shot. Due to the rainy weather and lack of good places to shoot video in Bloomington, I opted for a crossing near Shirley, several miles southwest of town off Intersta...

 After a four-year gap, the Iowa Interstate Railroad is bringing excursions to Chillicothe on Saturday, June 3, 2023! The railroad has already done this on three occasions, and like the first two, trips will presumably serve both Henry and Chillicothe, starting at the former.  Details have yet to be worked out, but should be available shortly along with a flyer. See below for highlights from the 2014, 2016 and 2019 train trips. CAPTION: The Iowa Interstate Railroad operated four roundtrips between Henry and Chillicothe for the public and volunteers on Saturday, September 13, 2014. Power for these trips was IAIS 151 and 154 - both SD38-2s - bracketing eight former Montreal commuter coaches. Scenes are taken at various locations inside the train and trackside throughout the day between Henry, Sparland and Chillicothe. Runs were made to raise funds for local volunteer fire departments. CAPTION: The Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. operated roundtrip passenger excursions between He...

I still abide the principal: If you can catch a TP&W road freight, do it!  And I'm always rewarded when I do. Today's train left East Peoria at 1434 hours with 87 cars. It stopped at Cruger to add 26, which being loaded and heading east confirms that they contained soybeans for Incobrasa Industries at Gilman.  M-EPEF and M-EFEP typically only operate two cycles per week, which makes their length and variety of traffic a bit deceiving. Yet, the TP&W of the 2020s enjoys much greater variety of through carload business on its East End, as compared to startup in 1989 and through the 1990s. Pics of early Gordon Fuller-era TP&W through freights show trains dominated by double stacks, TOFC and grain, sprinkled with some dry and liquid fertilizer traffic, chemicals and perhaps some lumber. The Conrail split of June 1, 1999 added a variety of carload business to TP&W, as previous CR-direct routings to and from Peoria (via NS haulage west of Lafayette, Indiana for three ...

A TP&W yard job was building M-EPEF early this afternoon, but also waiting for the Collier Turn to return with more cars. I figure that was the ONLY TP&W action I'd see this afternoon, do I went for it. Locations are at TZPR's Illinois River Bridge on the Peoria side and N. Main Street in East Peoria. The train's eight loads are the first eight of a block of covered hoppers. CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local is shown late-afternoon Sunday, March 19, 2023 on its return trip to East Peoria from Collier Yard in Bartonville, Illinois. HESR 2107 and TPW 5010 have 30 cars (8 loads, 22 empties).   - David P. Jordan

After church this morning, I went up to Princeville to check out some new track construction by the Seneca Foods cannery (More on that below). This was the last of three eastbound intermodal trains that I saw on the way up there, or while in town.  A contractor has torn out the switch and short stub end siding just west of the S. Walnut Street crossing, and track connecting to the siding on Seneca Foods property. A new siding is being built with panel track a little further south. Seneca Foods seemed to increase boxcar loading of pumpkin last late-summer/early-fall, so perhaps track capacity is being increased to sustain higher volume from that customer. The siding was in poor shape, so rebuilding/re-configuration was needed anyway.  CAPTION: An eastbound BNSF intermodal train rolls through Princeville, Illinois midday Sunday, March 19, 2023. BNSF 7552, BNSF 737, BNSF 6782, BNSF 7635 and BNSF 7409 have 107 cars.   - David P. Jordan

It was cold and windy this afternoon, but with sunshine, St. Patrick's Day was a good one for shooting video of MPECL. The train was longer than I thought it would be though, so they may have added a cut from the yard.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, March 17, 2023. UP 4080 has 65 cars. - David P. Jordan

Early this evening after leaving the Peoria Pubic Library in downtown Peoria, I came upon a short TP&W local moving through East Peoria. Rainfall required some creativity, so I shot these scenes from inside my car, angled appropriately to capture the action. The first two tank cars last contained inedible beef tallow, so these were released from Evonik's Mapleton plant. The DOWX car (Dow Chemical) displayed no haz-mat placards so I'm unsure what it last contained. When loaded, these cars seem to come from the Union Pacific interchange at Watseka.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP-1, the East Peoria to Collier Yard (Bartonville) turn, is shown shortly before returning to its home terminal in East Peoria, Illinois early evening Thursday, March 16, 2023. TPW 5010 has three empties from Mapleton chemical plants. - David P. Jordan 

Enroute to check Adams Street Yard afternoon work this afternoon, I noticed a healthy string of wire rod loads of out Liberty Steel & Wire sitting in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Kickapoo Yard, but with no power.  As there was no sign the Union Pacific MPECL crew was aboard (it would be shortly), I did a little exploring, coming across TZPR 1351 pulling three tank cars through BioUrja Renewables LLC's South Yard.  I assume they came around the Bridge Junction connection because TZPR 1351 pulled up to S. Darst Street and then shoved onto the industry lead and into Interstate Asphalt Corp's Peoria River Terminal.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job shoves along BioUrja Renewables LLC's Riverside Track into Interstate Asphalt Corp's Peoria River Terminal in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, March 14, 2023. TZPR 1351 has three tank cars.  My attention on the TZPR job, I heard the St. Albans Dispatcher give IMRR 2084 permission on W...

Winter weather last Friday and a distraction and an apparently early departure on Tuesday caused me to miss the train. Although short, it wasn't a waste of gas or time, as I go into town everyday anyway... CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 just after leaving Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, March 10, 2023. UP 3909 has just 23 cars (a few were left behind at Adams Street Yard). - David P. Jordan

T he first Decision is entitled CITY OF PEORIA, ILL. – DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE EXEMPTION – IN PEORIA COUNTY, ILL.  (1) The City of Peoria filed a petition to the Board February 15 to be permitted to act on behalf of the Central Illinois Railroad Co. to discontinue rail service over a 1.1-mile segment of the Kellar Branch.  (2) The Central Illinois Railroad Co ceased operations in 2010 and was dissolved in 2011. Its owners can't be located and failed to petition the Board to discontinue service over the remaining segments of the Kellar Branch, thus they have failed to abide by the contract signed with the city to conduct its responsibilities in operations, maintenance, etc. (3) The Board is intituting an exemption proceeding. A final decision will be issued June 5, 2023 because of a 120-day period allowing for an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA).  The second Decision is entitled PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY CO. LLC — DISCONTINUANCE OF TRACKAGE RIGHTS EXEMPTION...

Rivian Automotive's rising production schedule is requiring Norfolk Southern local D49 to spot empty autoracks more and more frequently before leaving for East Peoria. At least that is my conclusion, based on how late D49 can be seen leaving from East Peoria on some days.  I happened to be in the right place at the right time this afternoon. Although a short train with a single unit, it is good to see this train. I've been working on first shift since July 6, 2021, and have seen the train only five times since then. Once (October 11) was due to taking personal time to fix a tire issue. When I got that done, I went to East Peoria and managed to catch D49 arriving and departing. On April 8, 2022, I took a "floating holiday" to do some railfanning in Bloomington/Normal (for my McLean County Rails documentary) and caught it running in both directions.  Once each month this year so far, I've managed to catch it leaving East Peoria well after 3:00 pm. CAPTION: Norfol...

  Well...this is good news.  On my way home from work, I cross the TP&W's Morton Industrial Spur twice (E. Main and Jackson/US 150). Today, while at the latter, I noticed a tank car in the distance. Upon closer inspection, I saw there were two.     Notice UTLX 671549 and UTLX 681632 display no haz-mat placards for liquid herbicide (UN 3082). These cars probably contain a de-icing chemical.     A friend PM'd me last night about 8:20, saying he heard a horn. I drove around, hoping a TP&W local was shoving through town with tank cars for Fort Transfer Company. I even went out to Crandall, but saw nothing. Perhaps I just missed it. While at work today, I heard a horn that I though might be a from a locomotive, but thought little of that until this afternoon. (I have confirmation that the train came into town today.) Recall that TP&W ran a whopping three trains to Morton in 2022. The first was on February 16 to fetch four tank cars. On Marc...

This afternoon, I learned that a TP&W westbound freight was switching Incobrasa Industries' soybean crushing and biodiesel plant at Gilman. I wondered if this was the Indiana Local or the East Peoria-bound road freight? The latter's eastbound counterpart ran Monday afternoon, so it would make sense that the westbound was running on Wednesday. Based on social media updates, I learned that it was indeed the westbound road freight. I hopped into my car and took off, meeting the train at Chenoa.  Today's train had 15 limestone loads for East Peoria Materials/Rogers Group, 50 grain empties, 15 grain loads (pulled from Crescent City), only 14 manifest (note the two wire rod loads...scrap for Liberty Steel & Wire?) with ten more grain loads (possibly pulled from LaHogue?) bringing up the rear.  CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway's westbound road freight, M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) crawls through Chenoa, Illinois to cross the Union Paci...