Peoria Station

Enroute to the downtown library, I passed through East Peoria this afternoon and glad I did. A TP&W East Peoria Switcher, probably EP2, asked the St. Albans Dispatcher for permission to depart the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard and head home a short distance east.  Despite heavy traffic, I found aplace to park and shot video at N. Main Street. Train had the same trio of units that worked to Morton and back last evening.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP2, rolls by N. Main Street in East Peoria, Illinois enroute home with a transfer from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad mid-afternoon Thursday, February 29, 2024. MQT 3407, IMRR 2108 and TPW 3441 have eight empty covered hoppers.   - David P. Jordan

The three-unit lashup sure made for an interesting scene when the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway delivered its first carload of liquid herbicide to Fort Transfer Company this evening. Not one six-axle unit but two!  CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway made a run to Morton Wednesday evening, February 28, 2024 to deliver one herbicide load to Fort Transfer Company. MQT 3407, IMRR 2108 and TPW 3441 provided an interesting lashup for a single carload on a little-used industrial lead! Most action takes place at Crandall where the TP&W switches from Norfolk Southern's Bloomington District (used to and from East Peoria) to the Morton Industrial Spur, a remnant of Santa Fe's Pekin District.   - David P. Jordan

Today's train left about the usual time, crossing W. Farmington Road a little after 4:00pm. The three boxcars on the head end were dropped off by the Keokuk Junction Railway train on Monday afternoon.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Steet Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, February 27, 2024. UP 6906 has 22 cars.   David P. Jordan

When I left work, I learned that the Keokuk Junction Railway local was picking up the two F-7As (BUGX 401 and BUGX 402) before heading to East Peoria. Those former Gettysburg & Northern F-units have been at Kolbe since October 18, reportedly for mechanical work. They were enroute to the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad in Kansas but that carrier was shutdown by the Federal Railroad Administration earlier this month for a number of violations. Whether these units are still enroute or if they have a new destination is unknown at this time. Note that they had been on the KJRY since October but arrived the area (separately) on Norfolk Southern in late-August.  As I waited for the KJRY to move, I learned that BNSF's M-PEIGAL had permission to depart the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. Given the great afternoon sunlight, I decided to capture the train crossing the river and again at my favorite Darst Street perch. I figured I had time to get it one more time...

One of these arrived Tuesday, only five days ago. The crew of today's X-SMRPEI told the TZPR St. Albans dispatcher that Galesburg wanted the power back. So as soon as they dropped the train at Pekin, both units went back west engine lite.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway X-SMRPEI train (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-day Sunday, February 25, 2024. BNSF 4114 and BNSF 6608 have 96 gluten feed empties for interchange to Canadian National at the Pekin's double track south end.   David P. Jordan

This morning, I got a heads up that three TP&W motors had passed Washington eastbound. I figured they were heading to Grainland Co-operative's Cruger elevator to pull corn loads back west. When I arrived, the trio was just departing with 35 loads. I noticed the train running through the East Peoria Yard but haven't confirmed whether these were going to BioUrja Renewables LLC at Peoria or interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad for delivery to Alto Ingredients in Pekin.  CAPTION: A TP&W Extra East Peoria Switcher is shown departing Grainland Co-Operative's Cruger, Illinois elevator westbound. Later, it is shown at Ernest Street in Washington and then at the Farmdale Trestle minutes before entering the East Peoria Yard. MQT 3407, TPW 3442 and IMRR 2108 have 35 corn loads.   UPDATE: All 35 corn loads were at BioUrja South Yard in Peoria when I checked this evening.  David P. Jordan

I learned around 1:00 this afternoon that Norfolk Southern local D49 was spotted moving west near Deer Creek, so when I left work two hours later, I immediately headed for Crandall Junction.  Sure enough, I could see the headlight in the distance when I crossed the NS on Tennessee Ave.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 rolls by Crandall Junction mid-afternoon Thursday, February 22, 2024. Running the return leg of its Normal to East Peoria turn, NS 7000 has 17 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I checked Adams Street Yard Tuesday afternoon to find Union Pacific's MPECL with its crew aboard ready to depart. it wasn't until after 4:00 until the crew radioed the dispatcher for instructions, and rolled north from Peoria Junction. A single unit had no problems with the short train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, February 20, 2024. UP 6304 has 34 cars.   Later, an empty BNSF feed train showed up, which was a pleasant surprise. If I counted correctly, the train was short ten cars for an unknown reason.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) rolls into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, February 20, 2024. BNSF 5408 and BNSF 1043 (H1) have 90 Decatur-bound gluten feed empties for interchange to Canadian National.   David P. Jordan

American Eagle is adding a third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare on April 4.  The additional flights will be a morning turnaround. Daily departures will be at 6:39am, 11:34am and 4:44pm. Arrivals will be at 11:04am, 3:49pm and 9:12pm.  News of increased service comes shortly after the announcement that Peoria International Airport handled 638,378 passengers in 2023.  Schedules show the added service available for two months, but bookings could always lead to an extension. United Express resumed a third daily Peoria to Chicago-O'Hare roundtrip last July 8, and it continues to operate.  A pilot shortage, the consequence of raised federal qualifications and an "unexpected" rise in air travel following the end of COVID restrictions, eased somewhat in 2023. Part of this improvement, however, was due to reduced flying by regional carriers.  So the new service is likely being added back as traffic levels return to historic levels, and perhaps also for...

Late this morning before leaving home for the downtown library, I learned that an Iowa Interstate freight had passed Putnam enroute to Peoria. I had time for a few planned errands before heading north on Rt. 29. I didn't have to drive very far before encountering a short PESI on perfect light! Given the short consist, I figured a run was being made mainly for a larger outbound.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by San Koty Lane near Peoria Heights, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, February 17, 2024. IAIS 718 and IAIS 712 have 17 cars.   I calculated that counterpart PESI would be departing East Peoria around 1600 hours, and I was correct. The train wasn't as long as I figured it would be but steel coil loads and alcohol shipments have greater priority than distillers dried grain (grain mash) empties.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's ...

When I checked for MPECL at Union Pacific's Adams Street Yard as usual Friday afternoon, I didn't expect to see the Keokuk Junction Railway local snaking through Iowa Junction enroute to East Peoria. Reportedly, interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad is being done every two weeks. Strange, but none of the railroad's business is high priority so if the shipper is okay with that... A block of 15 loaded ALAB-marked covered hoppers might contain corn loaded at Sciota. Usually, leased equipment is used for this movement (Alto Ingredients in Pekin is the likely consignee), so this remains unconfirmed. Social media provided a heads up for the return leg.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton-E. Peoria turn is shown rolling eastbound along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Krause Avenue mid-afternoon Friday, February 16, 2024. LTEX 6437, PREX 2047, PREX 2018, PREX 2040 and LTEX 3010 have 52 cars. Later, the same set at the same location is shown aft...

Peoria Int'l Airport's Facebook page just posted 2023 passenger stats. Arriving and departing passengers totaled 638,378 last year, which is the second best in its history. Prior years and passenger stats - 2019 - 689,416  2020 - 326,861 2021 - 480,006  2022 - 573,911  So the trend is good. Hopefully, other commercial airports in Central Illinois will release their stats for 2023 as well. - David P. Jordan

An Illinois & Midland Railroad train behind Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway power running on Tazewell & Peoria Railroad trackage. Such is Genesee & Wyoming Inc's Central Illinois shortline empire... I first saw this train rolling through Hilliards as I drove I-474 westbound. So I turned around and caught up to it as the TZPR double track enters Pekin by Worley Lake. Consist behind a GP38-2 indicates IMRR-bound traffic. While this could be the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 4," and TPW 2056 had been noted in TZPR service last month, I believe IMRR handles Powerton-East Peoria transfer work the first six months of the year.  CAPTION: An Illinois & Midland Railroad Powerton Roadswitcher is shown rolling along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track late-afternoon Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Enroute from East Peoria to Powerton, TPW 2056 has 19 cars.   - David P. Jordan

As usual for Tuesday, I went by Union Pacific's Adams Street Yard after work to check on MPECL's progress (i. e. crew on board, likely to depart shortly) when I noticed BNSF's M-PEIGAL rolling under the Adams Street Viaduct. I turned around and stopped at the Kickapoo Creek truss bridge south of Harman Highway in time to capture the first scene.  I hadn't heard any chatter on the Union Pacific Peoria Sub channel so I decided to risk getting M-PEIGAL a second spot, the new Illinois Route 8 bridge at Edwards. Built just east and south of the old one, it is more open and sufficiently wide shoulders for parking. I think it will be a better spot for eastbounds, but I do like it.  Not sure why M-PEIGAL ran today. Normally, it runs on Monday. If the crew lacks time to complete the run to Galesburg, a new crew is called later in the evening or by morning. M-GALPEI and M-PEIGAL made the cycle on Tuesday last week. I figure it was just late, and not a sign of a new schedule.  CAP...

On social media, I received a heads up that an Iowa Interstate southbound had cleared Chillicothe around 1715 hours. So when I left the downtown library, I headed north, encountering the train in The Narrows. Of course, it was already dark, so I picked a location with good lighting at the Lorentz Avenue crossing where the train would enter the North Limit Yard.  I intended to use both my Canon SX720 and phone camera, but accidently took a still with the latter. It turned out pretty well though.  I decided on a second spot by the Morton Street crossing where a street lamp provided excellent lighting, until the train showed up. Seconds after grabbing my tri-pod and heading for my car, the light came on again, but it was too late. On to the next spot! The old (1900) Rock Island depot at Liberty and SW Water streets is always a good spot. Despite a pedestrian's smart-alek remark about jumping a train, I think the video turned out pretty well. I was going to shoot with both cameras...

This afternoon's Union Pacific MPECL was shorter than Tuesday's train. Hopefully, this is due to a seasonal lull and not a sign of declining business. CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road mid-afternoon Friday, February 9, 2024. UP 8240 and UP 7262 have 23 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Sometime late-Monday or Tuesday morning, a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad switch crew pulled the eight Caterpillar tractor loads (and an empty flat car ahead of them) into one of the A Yard's short tracks. That only seven of the tractor loads moved on Wednesday's D49, offers a possible explanation: one was bad ordered. Today's train was short, and just like on January 29 and 30, I began my chase minutes after leaving work!  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 rolls toward Deer Creek, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Later, it rolls through Carlock shortly before ending its run at Good Yard in Normal. NS 3362 and NS 7014 have 18 cars including SEVEN Caterpillar tractor loads.   I returned west and went into East Peoria to check on the Iowa Interstate crew with IAIS 711 reported to be grabbing Des Moines-bound Norfolk Southern high-hood GP38-2 5199 (which I saw on Norfolk Southern D49 January 29 - it came back following an inspection at Decatur)....

Union Pacific ran MCLPE late Saturday with a reported 141 cars (67 loads 74 empties). I saw it strung out along the Low Line Sunday evening. Glancing at it from the SW Adams Street Viaduct, I could tell the train had covered hoppers and tank cars, but I'm unsure why it was unusually heavy. I'm guessing it ran more than a day early because it took too much space at Clinton.  In contrasr to MCLPE, today's MPECL was shorter than usual.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, February 6, 2024. UP 8240 and UP 7262 have 28 cars. Due to heavy switching volume at Rivian Automotive in Normal, D49 didn't have time to make an East Peoria turn on Monday. So it had a reported 40 cars and NS 5199 (a high hood GP38 for Des Moines) for TZPR. I was hoping to catch it after work, because the outbound had eight Caterpillar tractor loads on the head end. But sometim...

Iowa Interstate has been running more trains lately, mostly due to the winter shift of grain and grain products traffic to Peoria-Pekin industrial district barge loadouts, but some trains are based on more mixed carload than grain or mash traffic. Saturday's SIPE was short, but heavy with gondolas and tank cars. CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by three locations near or in Peoria, Illinois late-morning Saturday, February 3, 2024. IAIS 716 and IAIS 718 have 39 cars. Locations are E. Linnett Street/Rt. 29, E. Lorentz Ave./Rt. 29 (North Limit Yard) and Irving Street (PMP Fermentation Products).   SIPE held at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's West Yard (by BioUrja Renewables LLC under the Cedar Street Bridge) for an empty Union Pacific coal train which came off of Canadian National Friday evening. With the bridge raised for barge traffic afterward, I bid adieu to SIPE and caught the UP coal empties at W. Farmington Road.  CAPTION: A Unio...

The sun and clouds were uncooperative this afternoon, but at least the train had a good variety of roling stock, including TEN boxcars.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Friday, February 2, 2024 shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois. UP 9054 has 54 cars.   - David P. Jordan