Union Pacific MPECL and TP&W M-EFEP 4-18-23

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 east of the Farmdale Trestle) in decent lighting, though the shadows grew longer as I waited. Finally, it came around the curve. 

Most of this evening's train was made up mostly of empties, but there were a dozen zinc oxide loads on the head end. These were shipped from Waelz Sustainable Products' new (June 2022) Clymers, Indiana facility and will be interchanged to Union Pacific, hopefully in time to make Friday's MPECL. A CN centerbeam flat laden with lumber is likely consigned to Morton Buildings c/o TP&W team track at East Peoria. 

A 15-car block of mostly Incobrasa Industries covered hoppers, all empty, may be for the Keokuk Junction Railway, which will spot them (six at a time) at Sciota. The 35 cars on the end were grain empties, which I'd expect to be "turned" and then distributed to elevators by a subsequent eastbound road train. 


CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) creeps down Washington Hill at Bittersweet Road as it nears the East Peoria Yard early evening Tuesday, April 18, 2023. TPW 3440, TPW 3441, IORY 5012, HESR 3485 and TPW 5015 have 83 cars.

- David P. Jordan

 

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