Keokuk Junction Rwy. Local (both ways), Union Pacific MPECL 2-16-24

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 after leaving East Peoria with 30 cars.

Shortly after the East Peoria-bound Keokuk Junction train passed my location, Union Pacific's MPECL received track warrants and departed. Given the weather (snow showers had just ended), a lone locomotive and 56 cars (with many loads), I expected the train would stall on Pioneer Hill. Reports indicate the train took two hours to reach the Dunlap area, confirming my expectation. Fortunately, I shot video in the old Molitor Junction area (just south of Harmon Highway).


CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls north by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, February 16, 2024. UP 8232 has 56 cars. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bartlett Grain Co. LP to Build Elevator on UP Peoria Sub!

Image
Bartlett Grain Co. LP's Bureau County facility will be similar to its Canadian Pacific Kansas City-served South Jacksonville, Illinois facility, shown May 2, 2020.  Bartlett Grain Co. LP is planning to build a $50 million grain loading facility in Bureau County, Illinois. Media reports here and here  tells us Bartlett Grain will build on 155 acres east of Rt. 40 and north of Interstate 80 between County Roads 1700 and 1745 East. The complex, complete with a rail loop capable of loading up to 120 cars, will employ 25 to 30.  Rail service will be provided by the Union Pacific on its Peoria Subdivision, which runs from Nelson south to Barr. Grain will be shipped to Mexico.  - David P. Jordan
Read more

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

PIA - A History: Chicago & Southern Airlines Crash Oct. 21, 1971

Image
The only fatal Peoria-area plane crash involving a scheduled air carrier occurred October 21, 1971 when Chicago & Southern Airlines Flight #804 went down while attempting to land in poor weather conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident report can be viewed here , but I'll summarize the crash, what led up to it and the aftermath.  ILL-FATED FLIGHT #804 Chicago & Southern Airlines began flying between Peoria and Chicago's Meigs Field on July 7, 1969. Beech 18S and DHC-6 "Twin Otter" aircraft were used for its flights, the former type at Peoria. In 1970, C&S introduced an aircraft known as the ATECO Westwind II. It was a Beech 18S with heavy modifications including a seven-foot fuselage extension, two turboprop engines and a tri-cycle landing gear. An ATECO Westwind II operated ill-fated C&S Flight #804. It departed Meigs Field at 11:20 a. m. October 21, 1971 for Peoria and Springfield with 14 passengers. Airline pres
Read more