Peoria Station

Allied Iron & Steel Co. and A. Miller & Co are no more. Alter Trading announced March 20 that it was acquiring A. Miller & Co and its sister Allied Iron & Steel Co. These operations have closed and work done at both facilities has been consolidated at local Alter Metal Recycling facilities.  Allied Iron & Steel was served by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, though service seemed sporadic in recent years. This facility opened in 1965 (per an Illinois Industrial Directory) and was originally served by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR, which installed a switch on the curve just west of the Peoria Terminal Company crossing. At the time, the Chicago & North Western Railway's ex-Minneapolis & St. Louis line was still in place up to Iowa Junction, so Allied's facility was nestled between that and the CB&Q.  A. Miller & Co. loaded junk in gondolas to its Alley Track location on 1612 SW Adams Street for shipment to Allied's plant for pr...

Today's MPECL had a neat consist, including a variety of boxcars from the KJRY interchange.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 28, 2023. UP 5890 and NS 8063 have 45 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I hadn't seen either of BNSF Peoria Sub manifests since January 7, and that one (M-GALPEI) I had to drive up to Douglas to capture before dark. Nearly four months later, I see both M-GALPEI's this week! It was good to see it.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road late afternoon Thursday, April 27, 2023 as it nears the end of its journey. Later, the train is shown entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street. BNSF 7772 and BNSF 7115 have 41 cars (23 loads/18 empties) representing a variety of traffic - nitrogen fertilizer solution, zinc ingots, lumber, bagged salt, methyl chloride, molten petroleum asphalt and animal fat. I could have captured the eastbound Keokuk Junction Railway local, but only after its set out for TP&W and Union Pacific at Collier Yard. So I decided to go to the downtown library instead. A heads up on social media on M-GALPEI prompted me to leave the library earlier than...

Early this afternoon, TPW 2105 came into Morton with one tank car for Fort Transfer Company. It left engine lite. The other two tank cars brought in March 2 are still there. I was at work so I couldn't see it.  I did get a heads up on a CN feed pellet train this evening, though. I waited until the downtown library closed, figuring that the train would wait south of Pekin for a little while before getting permission to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad trackage at IC Junction.  When I crossed the CN main at Hanna Drive, the train was moving so I quickly turned around and set up by the old C&IM depot for video.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train G831 (Grain Loads, Decatur IL to Peoria IL) crawls through downtown Pekin, Illinois near IC Junction early evening Wednesday, April 26, 2023. CN 3916 and CN 5606 have gluten feed loads from ADM in Decatur for interchange to BNSF Railway, on which it becomes G-PEISMR (Grain Loads, Peoria IL to Summerfield TX). ...

Lighting conditions were less than ideal, but I haven't seen M-GALPEI since January 7! Today's train had 18 loads and 21 empties. Note three brand new BRIX covered hoppers, two boxcars (salt loads), seven nitrogen tank cars, one methyl chloride tank car and some other traffic for TP&W. There were were also two scrap metal loads, which I assume are consigned to Liberty Steel & Wire Co. CAPTION:  BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road early evening Monday, April 24, 2023. BNSF 5169 and BNSF 9756 have 39 cars. Later, the train is shown entering the Tazewell & Peoria RR at S. Darst St.   - David P. Jordan

One of TP&W's biggest historical weakness - lack of concentration of heavy industry on both ends of its system (and in between) - is being rectified in recent years. The latest is a major expansion by Incobrasa Industries' Gilman, Illinois soybean crushing facility, which opened in 1997. Although it is also served by Canadian National, TP&W will hopefully see a significant increase in business when construction is complete.  So it is good to see local activity for Incobrasa industries. An extra crew pulled a mix of old and new (or newer) covered hoppers from the East Peoria Yard to Grainland Co-operative's Cruger elevator this afternoon for soybean loading.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway Cruger Turn rolls by Ernest Street in Washington, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, April 22, 2023. IORY 5014 and TPW 2105 have 58 empties for soybean loading at Grainland Co-op. - David P. Jordan 

Although I'd first check on Union Pacific train MPECL as usual on Friday, I headed into Peoria this afternoon knowing the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn had left Kolbe. I was able to capture MPECL under than Harman Highway overpass a short time later.  I expected the twelve zinc oxide loads (see Note 1) on the head end of Tuesday's TP&W road train to be on Friday's MPECL. Although it had seven zinc oxide loads (see Note 2), none matched those on the TP&W train. You would think sufficient time had passed for TP&W to deliver to Union Pacific. I did notice two cars (not together) were left at Adams Street Yard, I don't think any were among the twelve arriving from East Peoria Tuesday evening.  NOTE 1 - SRIX 57102, SRIX 525002, RISX 1037, RISX 3073, RISX 3046, SRIX 525062, SRIX 57259, RISX 3059, RISX 3077, RISX 3037, RISX 3071, RISX 3070 NOTE 2 - RISX 1036, RISX 1031, RISX 3044, SRIX 525111, RISX 3035, RISX 3074, RISX 1035 CAPTION: Union Pacific...

I happened to see the tail end of the train as I crossed the river this afternoon. Immediately, I thought of those eight dry bulk fertilizer behind IMRR 43 on last evening's TZPR transfer from the TP&W's East Peoria Yard. I speculated that these were loaded at Growmark's Mapleton terminal and would go to either BNSF or Iowa Interstate. Turns out, they left on today's Iowa Interstate PESI, and are probably consigned to the Growmark terminal at Stuart, Iowa. (There were a total of 16, presumably all loaded at Mapleton.) CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by the San Koty (Peoria Heights) area shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, April 20, 2023. IAIS 503 and IAIS 511 have 85 cars. - David P. Jordan 

Here's action representing the three shortlines which make up Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Central Illinois Empire in one video. Early this evening, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew went east engine lite to fetch 15 cars from the TP&W's East Peoria Yard I shot this video at N. Main Street in East Peoria as the train was running on TP&W's Peoria Sub mainline. This is the location of "P&PU Junction," which you will hear discussed as a control point between dispatchers and train crews. So we have a TZPR train running on TP&W track using IMRR power!  The first eight cars are loaded, and as the first displays MOCX (Mosaic Crop Nutrition) markings, I'd guess these contained dry bulk fertilizer (phosphate, urea, etc.) bound for BNSF or Iowa Interstate.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew pulls a transfer from TP&W to their home terminal early evening Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Shown running on TP&W's Peoria Sub mainline at Ea...

Since yesterday's Norfolk Southern local D49 made its East Peoria turn so late, it "died" near Goodfield. I was hoping it would be late again so I could see the return leg after work. I didn't see it, and wonder if it even made the East Peoria trip today?  With no sign of D49, I crossed the river and approached Adams Street Yard just as Union Pacific's MPECL was receiving instructions from the dispatcher. At least the second locomotive was an NS unit!  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, April 18, 2023. UP 5524 and NS 8063 have 36 cars.  Social media provided a heads up that this train had cleared Washington around 1725. I was at the downtown library but decided not to break my rule ("when you can see a TP&W road train, do so"). Turns out, I had plenty of time. I waited maybe 15 minutes at Bittersweet Road (last crossing eas...

I took a chance this afternoon and went to East Peoria immediately after work, as a lengthy D49 had been reported leaving Good Yard in Normal around 2:00pm-ish. I figured there was a possibility the train would have to wait for TZPR and/or TP&W movements before given instructions into the TZPR East Peoria Yard.  I probably missed it by ten minutes. I drove the Cedar Street Extension around 3:20 and saw NS 6975 and NS 7014 on A-1 Track, having just cut off the inbound. So I stuck around to capture the train's departure. I went to the downtown library, and came back in time to find D49 crossing N. Main Street.  The train had 25 loads and one empty (a gondola). Radio chatter indicated NS 7014 was off-line, and the crew asked the NS dispatcher for a work between. I shot my video around 1645 hours, and the crew's hours-of-service expired at 1800. If they made it back to Good Yard, they did so just barely.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 is shown late-afternoo...

I had a meeting on Peoria's northside today, so I couldn't check Union Pacific train MPECL at Adams Street Yard as I usually do Friday after work.  After my meeting, I went over to Brauer Road at the top of Pioneer Hill to wait. Sure enough, MPECL came grinding up the hill maybe 25-30 minutes later.  Short train, but neat consist! CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 72 at the top of Pioneer Hill in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 14, 2023. UP 7826 and UP 6176 have 26 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Short train, but neat locomotive lashup! This evening's train had 18 cars when it left the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, and only one was empty (the tank car behind the 2-bay covered hopper).  Interestingly, four ALAB-marked covered hoppers were loaded. Presumably, gluten meal or gluten feed was shipped from Keokuk Junction Railway-served Roquette America in Keokuk, Iowa and routed to a CN destination.  Perhaps Decatur-bound corn germ has shifted to a KJRY-Peoria-CN routing, which would still require NS delivery to ADM's West Plant/Grain Oil Refinery? CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls by Worley Lake in Pekin, crosses N. 2nd Street in downtown Pekin after a pause and then races across 5th Street near South Pekin after pulling two empty boxcars from Amerhart Ltd. CN 8892, GTW 5937, BCR 4654, UP 7996 and CN 8885 left Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard with 18 cars, growing to 20 befo...

Instead of seeing Union Pacific's MPECL this afternoon, I an empty northbound grain train rolled through the area.  It was likely a re-route (it originated at Hope, Arkansas and is destined to Northfield, Minnesota), so MPECL's normal crew might be on it.    The train paused briefly as I was shooting video, probably to wait for the signal at Pottstown to clear.  I heard some more chatter just before 6:00 this evening,which might have been MPECL, but I had other plans so I didn't investigate.  CAPTION: An Union Pacific train of grain empties crawls across W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, April 11, 2023. The train stopped briefly, probably for a signal at Pottstown, then resumed its trip north. UP 6173 was on the point and UP 6492 was DPU.  - David P. Jordan 

I learned that Norfolk Southern local D49 didn't leave Good Yard in Normal until late this morning on account of having to switch Rivian Automotive, besides the usual routine of classifying D32. It looks like Rivian is getting switches Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so that means D49 makes its East Peoria turn later than usual. Today's train delivered 55 cars to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, but it left with only 19. Still, it had to Caterpillar tractor loads. It left TZPR about 1430 hours, so I went after it from work, rather than go home first. I caught it at Goodfield, so I went on to Carlock and waited.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern train D49 rolls through Carlock, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, April 10, 2023. NS 6173 and NS 6122 have 19 cars for Good Yard in Normal. - David P. Jordan

I  checked Princeville this afternoon for progress on track reconfiguration and found the north stub had been laid, but still needs much work before it can be used. The crossing has not been built yet either.  I saw three BNSF eastbound intermodal trains while in the area, but was only in position to shoot the daily Union Pacific eastbound intermodal, Z-CIG4.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train Z-CIG4 (Expedited Intermodal, City of Industry CA to Global 4) rolls by N. Rice Road, between Princeville and Edelstein, Illinois, early afternoon Sunday, April 9, 2023. UP 7135, UP 6376, UP 6722 and UP 8927 have 96 platforms, followed by DPU's UP 4549 and UP 9020 and 81 more platforms. - David P. Jordan 

I caught it this morning on my way to the downtown library.  As it blew for the N. Main Street crossing, I made a last-minute decision to shoot video along the Nickel Plate Division, which had a better sun angle.  The train crew stopped to line a switch, so I had to shoot two videos and combine them. I assume BNSF will bring crew here later today to run this train west.  CAPTION: A TP&W crew handles a unit grain train from Grainland Co-operative's Cruger elevator through East Peoria, Illinois late-morning Saturday, April 8, 2023. The train is bound for the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad double track at Wesley (Creve Ceour), where a BNSF crew will board for the trip west. CN 8809 and BNSF 5046 were on the point with BNSF 6973 as DPU. - David P. Jordan 

I did it again. There were no tornadoes today, so it was safe to capture Union Pacific's MPECL. I'm glad I did because it had some interesting traffic and rolling stock.  Although longer than unusual at 71 cars, it lacked blocks of zinc oxide loads from TP&W and dry sorbent empties from the IMRR, so its length was due to the KJRY traffic (i. e. ten boxcars, two corn syrup tank cars), but also 18 loaded COER/TZPR gondolas (blocks of eight, two and eight), which either contained scrap metal or perhaps steel billets. The boxcar ahead of the three rod loads must contain barbed wire from Liberty Steel & Wire, which does seem to load a few boxcars in the spring. Note also the CHS-marked covered hopper besides a few CHS-marked tank cars. CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) is shown at W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 7, 2023. UP 9028 and UP 6176 have 71 cars. Later, the train rolls by F...

I missed BNSF Railway's M-PEIGAL, which ran Wednesday afternoon. I probably could have caught it at Edwards had I taken I-74 direct, but thought the crew would stop and radio the dispatcher for instructions after getting onto home rails at Darst Street. This afternoon, social media indicated an M-GALPEI was in the line-up. Ahead of it was another train of grain empties for TP&W, which happens to be the second (or second known) X-HERPEI since Sunday! When I arrived Peoria's south edge, I noticed the train sitting at S. Darst Street. A TP&W crew was aboard and shortly asked for dispatcher instructions. Due to lighting, I waited until East Peoria for video.  This train is bound for either Grainland Co-operative's Cruger elevator or Prairie Central Co-operative's new Greenfield (Chenoa) elevator.  CAPTION:   BNSF Railway brought another X-HERPEI (Grain Empties, Hereford TX to Peoria IL) to TP&W early afternoon Thursday, April 6, 2023. Shown at N. Main Street in ...

A tornado warning deterred me from getting Friday's train. No such thing this afternoon, though it seems there is one on the ground in Fulton County as I write this!  I've noticed the past few weeks that MPECL has had tank cars with CHS markings. CHS (Cenex HarvestStates) is a soybean processor, but the cars were empty on trains leaving town so I figured they were being used in tallow or some other kind of animal fat service to the TP&W-served Evonik chemical plant in Mapleton. They display no haz-mat placards.  This evening, I noticed a tank car with CHS markings in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. UP and TP&W have a direct connection, so tallow service is unlikely. Mayve CHS is sending soybean oil to the Gavilon-owned facility on Wesley Road like Cargill? I'm sure I'll investigate further when I can.  CAPTION:  Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls across W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria,...

After church, I returned to Princeville to check progress on track re-arrangement, and caught quite a bit of action. Description below. The two hot UP intermodals which play this route daily must have met around Williamsfield... CAPTION: Early-afternoon Sunday, April 2, 2023 was busy on BNSF Railway's Chillicothe Subdivision between Princeville and Chillicothe. I missed an eastbound BNSF vehicle train but managed to capture Union Pacific's Z-G4CI at Princeville. I then chased counterpart Z-CIG4 to Blue Ridge Road, just west of Chillicothe. It passed a westbound BNSF vehicle train at Edelstein. I headed back west only to encounter an eastbound BNSF intermodal train at Edelstein which cleared just in time to capture a second westbound BNSF vehicle train!  (1) Z-G4CI - UP 7230, UP 2721, UP 5509 and UP 2596 have 120 platforms (2) Z-CIG4 - UP 2731, UP 5061, UP 6579 and UP 6183 have 95 platforms, UP 5375 and UP 5640 as mid-train DPUs, and 91 more platforms. (3) EB BNSF IM - BNSF 424...