Peoria Station

Union Pacific's MPECL ran around its usual time this afternoon.  Around 3:30, I saw it was still in the yard with no sign of a crew aboard yet, so I checked East Peoria happenings and then returned to the Adams Street Yard area in time to hear the crew tone up the UP dispatcher at 4:05.  The train was by W. Farmington Road 30 minutes later.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, October 31, 2023. UP 8193 has 59 cars. - David P. Jordan

Earlier this afternoon, I picked up radio chatter confirming the BNSF local was in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. I drove the Cedar Street Extension hoping to see it, but could not confirm that it was still there.  After spending some time at the downtown library, I had just made a left onto the Cedar Street Bridge and saw the outbound in the distance, crawling onto home rails.  Naturally, I turned around and got ahead of it just south of Harmon Highway.  Although the sun had already set, I managed to shoot video with my phone.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls out of Peoria, Illinois early evening Monday, October 30, 2023. BNSF 3869 and BNSF 5900 have 30 cars.   David P. Jordan

Apparently, Norfolk Southern's Des Moines, Iowa switch crews request and prefer GP38-2 high hood units for their local operations? The first several scenes are on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria after the train crossed the river. Most cars are grain empties, but there is a steel coil load and quite a few tank cars handling beverage, fuel-grade and industrial alcohol.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) is shown at various locations between Peoria and Mossville, Illinois mid-afternoon Sunday, October 29, 2023. IAIS 5014 has Des Moines, Iowa-bound NS 5199 and 59 cars.   - David P. Jordan

After missing it three times, I caught Union Pacific's MPECL this afternoon, leaving around its usual time around 4:00pm. The Keokuk Junction Railway ran an East Peoria turn on Thursday, so today's MPECL had boxcars laden with Amsted Rail/Griffin Wheel Corp. traffic.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 (the former Molitor Junction) shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, October 27, 2023. Shortly, the train enters the double track at Pottstown. UP 7529 and UP 8242 have 62 cars.   David P. Jordan

I received a heads up early Sunday afternoon that a southbound Iowa Interstate freight had passed Mossville. So I headed into Peoria and encountered it near the Komatsu plant. I backtracked to the RiverPlex parking lot downtown and waited a few minutes before the train showed up. PMP Fermentation Products sure makes a good backdrop!   T oday's train was short. The GEVOs were split up with 518 coupled to an empty potash train (PEDAV) at Wesley. The 506 took PESI out of town, probably after dark.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by PMP Fermentation Products in downtown Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Sunday, October 22, 2023. Later, it is at South Street just before crossing the river. Both scenes are on Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division. IAIS 518 and IAIS 506 have 26 cars.   Earlier, I noticed a TP&W crew putting together a rather lengthy manifest in the East Peoria Yard. I figured an extra switch crew was on duty an...

Tuesday's Union Pacific MPECL left late and today's left early, so I missed both this week. But Norfolk Southern's D49 local made a late-East Peoria turn this afternoon, so I was able to catch its return leg at Crandall Junction about 3:30. Notably, all four scrap metal loads embedded mid-train - TFOX 1646, TFOX 1649, ITFX 212087 and TOFX 4456 - were delivered to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad by the Keokuk Junction Railway local on Wednesday. Reportedly, these cars are consigned to Steel Dynamics' Butler, Indiana steel mill.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 rolls by Crandall Junction (TP&W crossing) near Morton, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, October 20, 2023. NS 3410 and NS 3362 have 23 cars.   David P. Jordan

With a chance that a pair of F-7As could move west on the Keokuk Junction Railway Thursday, I left work at 9:00 and headed for Mapleton. Before I arrived, I already had a pretty good idea that the F-units pulled from East Peoria wouldn't be moving any further than the old Carter Lumber spur at Mapleton. Both units were left there last night, possibly for long-term storage. Speculation is that BNSF doesn't want to handle BUGX 401 and BUGX 402 to their intended destination, the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad in Kansas, and that the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, on whose Creve Coeur Team Track for nearly two months, wanted them gone. Storing them on the Keokuk Junction Railway must been determined to be the only solution until another scenario for transportation can be agreed upon.  Although the local didn't take the F-units west, I'm glad I did the chase on Thursday.  CAPTION: Chasing the Keokuk Junction Railway's weekly local from Mapleton, Illinois to a poin...

As the train approached my position, I saw the block of 20 corn loads from Sciota and was hoping to see the first revenue movement of those new KJRY-marked covered hoppers reported last week another source. But corn was moving in the usual cars... CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn is shown running on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, October 18, 2023. LTEX 3848, PREX 2018 and LTEX 6437 have 29 cars.   It is about time. BUGX 402 has been at TZPR since August 28. Sister BUGX 401 probably arrived the following Friday, September 1. It was believed that they would continue west on BNSF. Instead, nearly two months later, they left on the Keokuk Junction Railway. I'm not upset by this development... CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn picked up F7As BUGX 401 and 402 before departing for Mapleton early evening Wednesday, October 18, 2023. LTEX 6437, PREX 2018 and LTEX 3848 ha...

While heading into town this afternoon, I noticed BNSF's M-PEIGAL made up in TZPR's East Peoria Yard Track A-35, so I figured M-GALPEI was due. Sure enough, minutes after I parked near W. Farmington Road, I heard a horn blowing through Pottstown. Moments later, it passed by my position. I only had time to grab my phone and shoot the first scene.  Late-afternoon October sun guarantees long shadows, so I decided to shoot it again at a atill-sunny spot as it entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street. I didin't have to wait for long. No sooner did the crew give up its track warrant to the BNSF dispatcher did they call the TZPR dispatcher for instructions. Within minutes, the conductor was on the ground, walked toward the switch to line it for his train. He returned to the cab and the train began to move again. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Monday, October 16, 2023. Later...

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...

Despite the rain, I went after today's MPECL because it had a good variety of business behind the two UP motors. Cargill soybean oil and other Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (TZPR) traffic, and also Keokuk Junction Railway and TP&W interchange rounded out by dry sorbent empties from Illinois & Midland RR (via TZPR) on the rear.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, October 13, 2023. UP 8793 and UP 8883 have 60 cars (39 loads/21 empties).  David P. Jordan

If given an opportunity, I try not to miss getting the Canadian National local when it is led by unit still adorned in Illinois Central black. The operational merger between CN and IC was 23 years ago, yet the IC vibe remains. Tonight's local had 41 plastic pellet empties in blocks of 29 and 12 cars. Only four other cars - two tank cars, one loaded and one empty, and two twin-bay covered hoppers containing granulated slag - were in the consist. I can only assume the plastic empties came from the the Illinois & Midland RR. If so, then at least 43 of 45 cars came from them! As the sun had already set, I tried my new camera's 4K capability and am impressed. I don't think I could otherwise read the reporting marks and car numbers.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's double track main at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois early evening Thursday, October 12, 2023. IC 1036 and C...

Like last Tuesday, Union Pacific's MPECL left early, so I didn't see it. But I soon learned that Norfolk Southern's D49 local hadn't left East Peoria, so I investigated and was rewarded with a late-afternoon departure. Other than the two Caterpillar D9T loads (on 68' TZPR flats, which were designed for the D11), traffic was typical.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 is shown departing East Peoria, Illinois on its return leg to Good Yard at Normal late-afternoon Tuesday, October 10, 2023. NS 3410 and NS 3362 has 27 cars, including two Caterpillar D9T track-type tractors.   Earlier, I had received a brief video from a friend that an empty BNSF feed train (X-SMRPEI) had just departed Galesburg. After a failed attempt to capture D49 a second time, I headed west on I-74. Just as I crossed the tracks on W. Farmington Road, I saw the headlight to the northwest! I barel had time to park and set up for video.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summe...

I waited for this one at W. Farmington Road, got impatient, left and then quickly discovered that the train was nearing the crossing! I turned around and barely made it to Pottstown to capture this scene. I switched to 4K, so the video quality is very high and took quite a long time to upload.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway G-PEISMR (Grain, Peoria IL to Summerfield TX) rolls by Pottstown, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, October 6, 2023. BNSF 7053 and BNSF 3835 have 100 gluten feed loads. If not for a friend who reported MPECL's later-than-unusual (two hours) departure a little after 6:00pm, I would have given up on it. Due to low light conditions, I decided to use my phone. While there is some blur, I think it turned out well for the most part.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by the old Pioneer Station on the northwest corner of Peoria, Illinois early evening Friday, October 6, 2023. UP 6361 and UP 7732 have 47 cars.   David P. Jorda...

I missed Union Pacific's MPECL because it left Adams Street Yard earlier than usual. But I did see the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn on its return leg to Kolbe/Mapleton. I waited until if pulled Union Pacific interchange from Collier Yard. Today's run had a good mix of cars.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn is shown on its return leg after pulling Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard late-afternoon Tuesday, October 3, 2023. LTEX 6437 and LTEX 3848 have 41 cars.   David P. Jordan

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. In 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...