BNSF-TP&W Grain, TZPR Powerton Turn and Canadian National L557 - 4-6-23

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 East Peoria, Illinois with a TP&W crew, BNSF 7029, BNSF 6603 and BNSF 4609 were on the point.

I never saw Thursday's M-GALPEI, but at least I captured some other local action, because of which I never made it to the downtown library. 

I knew Canadian National's L557 local power had gone into the TZPR yard and coupled onto its outbound train, so I stuck around. Before the CN local departed, the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad ran a Powerton Turn out of East Peoria. 

CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (TZPR) Powerton Turn rolls by Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois on the Pekin double track late-afternoon Thursday, April 6, 2023. IMRR 43 and TZPR 1521 have 45 cars for interchange to sister Illinois & Midland Railroad.

Finally, the CN local departed. After shooting video at Hilliards, I crossed the river to check for M-GALPEI, which I did in vain. So I caught up to the CN at Pekin. 

Interestingly, the train had two loaded CSX steel coil cars up front. Normally, L556's crew sets these out at Pekin so the next L557 can pull and then spot them at Hanna Steel. But for some reason, they were "turned" at TZPR's East Peoria Yard. Perhaps L556 hadn't the time to set them out?

Anyway, they grabbed two CSX coil steel cars at Pekin and delivered all four to Hanna Steel. Meanwhile, I caught TZPR's Powerton Turn making its return trek through downtown Pekin back to East Peoria. Afterward, I happened upon the departing CN local and was able to bag some final video at 5th Street near South Pekin. 

CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) is shown late-afternoon Thursday, April 6, 2023. CN 8885 has 24 cars as it rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois. Later, the train rolls cross N. 2nd Street in downtown Pekin. Shortly, the train added two more coil steel loads, delivering a total of four to Hanna Steel Corp's processing plant at Riverway Business Park. In the final scene, a 22-car local races across 5th Street near South Pekin. 

With long evening shadows, I opted for the old Terminal Station site between Ann Eliza and Margaret Streets for video of the TZPR local's passage. 

CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Powerton Turn is shown crossing N. 3rd and Margaret Streets in downtown Pekin, Illinois on its return leg to East Peoria early evening Thursday, April 6, 2023. TZPR 1521 and IMRR 43 have 38 cars.

- David P. Jordan