Norfolk Southern D36 5-25-23

Today's Norfolk Southern local D36 out of Bloomington/Normal had mostly D49 traffic.

Seven soybean meal empties on the head end will be set out for DuPont at Gibson City. The CRDX car was an organic corn load pulled from The Andersons facility at Mansfield.

Notable traffic from Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard includes corn syrup. gluten meal and scrap metal from the Keokuk Junction Railway, plastic pellets and granulated slag from the Illinois & Midland Railroad, a Komatsu truck chassis, alcohol from BioUrja and/or Alto Pekin LLC or Alto ICP, and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid from Messer's Pekin facility.

Nine loaded autoracks on the rear contained Rivian vehicles assembled at the Normal plant. Such shipments appear to be frequent these days, thanks to significantly higher production levels this year.

Present volume isn't what Mitsubishi generated but Rivian expects expects to build 50,000 vehicles in 2023 (double 2022 levels). In 2024 it intends to build 85,000 R1 vehicles alone and achieve profitability. 

If these goals materialize, NS will be required to add a second regular shift Good Yard-based switcher, probably D47. Such a move could bump D49 to an afternoon call time. 


CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D36 (Normal IL to Decatur IL) rolls across Market Street on Bloomington's west side early evening Thursday, May 25, 2023. Later, the whole train is shown at Lafayette and Easy streets before leaving town. NS 3299, NS 7014 and NS 6975 have 52 cars. The first eight cars were "turned" at Good Yard an the last nine are autoracks containing Rivian vehicles. The 35 in between came into Good Yard on D49 from Peoria-Pekin area industries and connections (IMRR, KJRY).

- David P. Jordan 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Black Band Distillery Expands to ex-Cat Tire!

Image
Black Band Distillery, presently operating at 1000 SW Adams Street, is planning to expand to the vacant property at 2400 SW Washington Street. That is according to WCBU News .  Although the article omits it, this property has a long history with the local distilling industry. National Cooperage & Woodenware Co. constructed a plant there in 1900, though a predecessor apparently had begun barrel making operations there c. 1885. This firm survived Prohibition (1920-1933) because the barrels could also be used for packing corn syrup, condensed milk, cider, vinegar, liquid chemicals, flavoring extracts, etc. Hiram Walker & Sons, which purchased one-third to one-half of its production, gained control of National Cooperage in 1946. A new four-story expansion began in the fall of 1964 only to be destroyed by a tornado on September 14, 1965. Operations resumed at the start of 1966 and the entire plant was replaced in 1967-1968.  Changing economics led to closure in 1972. Caterpillar Tra
Read more

TP&W-to-TZPR Transfer 10-14-23

Image
I happened upon this train pulled out of the TP&W's East Peoria Yard onto the Peoria Sub. I quickly concluded it was a switch crew making up a transfer to TZPR, and was rewarded for waiting around. Radio chatter indicated nine loads and 50 empties. The first three cars contained zinc oxide for Union Pacific (via Tazewell & Peoria RR, rather than via direct interchange). Embedded in the consist were six covered hoppers likely containing phosphate fertilizer for Mosaic Crop Nutrition in the Pekin Bottoms. This is the second time I've seen empty tank cars with Incobrasa Industries markings. Normally, I'd expect loads moving westbound. Everything else is empties for TZPR-served industries and interchange to BNSF.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western train, probably an EP-X (East Peoria Extra switcher), handles Tazewell & Peoria RR-bound traffic across E. Washington Street in East Peoria, Illinois midday Saturday, October 14, 2023. TPW 5010, TPW 2105 and HESR 34
Read more

Peoria Int'l Airport Awarded $500,000 In SCASD Program (UPDATED X2)

Image
Peoria Int'l Airport has been awarded $500,000 for assistance in regaining a link to a western connecting hub. The grant, announced Friday, is part of the Small Community Air Service Development program (SCASD). Funds are used to offset financial losses by the airline providing service. On many instances, funds aren't needed. The Airport Authority prefers Denver, Houston, Phoenix or Salt Lake City. Denver and Houston are hubs for United Airlines, Phoenix is a hub for American Airlines and Salt Lake City is a hub for Delta Airlines.  It is difficult to imagine that American Airlines would offer Peoria-Phoenix nonstops when passengers can make good connections through Dallas/Ft. Worth. Houston was already tried and didn't work out due to load factors. I don't see Delta Airlines being interested in Peoria-Salt Lake City nonstops.  Both American Airlines and United Airlines provided letters of support. So if Houston, Phoenix and Salt Lake City are out, then Denver is likel
Read more