Peoria Station

I saw something unusual this afternoon.  I decided to check if Union Pacific was running MPECL a third Sunday afternoon in a row. When I came down W. Farmington Road hill from the west, the gates were lowering! So I decided to head south to the old Molitor Junction area just south of Harman Highway to wait. My hoped for MPECL turned out to be a 133-car train of coal empties led by a single locomotive.  I assume this was a trainset bound for storage. I know it crossed the river, possibly for interchange to the Illinois & Midland RR at Crescent/Powerton, or South Pekin to be taken south by another crew, or storage there temporarily. Wish I knew.  CAPTION: An southbound empty Union Pacific coal train rolls by Milepost 80 at Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, March 31, 2024. UP 7375 has 133 cars.   David P. Jordan

My first attempt was a little clumsy. Breeze Airways, an Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC), began serving Springfield in early December with twice-weekly nonstops to both Orlando and Tampa. I had to wait nearly four months to see the action. That's because initial service was on weekday mornings. Orlando flights started on Mondays and Fridays but shifted to Wednesdays and Saturdays in mid-January. This gave me hope, but freezing weather or fog thwarted my plans into February.  Then the schedule for Orlando turnarounds switched to evenings. I had to wait until Daylight Savings Time went into affect March 10 before sufficient sunshine would be available.  I got down there too late to capture an American Eagle CRJ200 on approach to Runway 22, and though the Breeze Airways jet might follow the same approach. It was too late to change locations when I discovered it was on final for Runway 31.  Whatever happened afterward required some creativity. Next time, I will do better. ...

Ask a question on transportation and industry. As always, if I don't know the answer, I'll find one. As a much-needed update, I said to look for PIA - A History: Events of 2003, but decided to wait until I've obtained airline schedules for this period. If I can do so, look for the post in May or June.  - David P. Jordan

Today's train left later than usual. In fact, it departed Adams Street Yard before the crewed radioed the dispatcher. When I saw it moving around 1630, I drove to W. Farmington Road to wait for it. In the back of mind, I wondered if the train was only moving to switch out a car.  Fortunately, this wasn't the case, and MPECL received the green signal around 1645, passing my location at 1702. CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, March 29, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 51 cars. - David P. Jordan

Enroute to the downtown library this afternoon, I picked up some radio chatter on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad yard channel. I couldn't make out much of what was said, so I had to investigate. Turns out, the Keokuk Junction Railways East Peoria turn was building its outbound train in the East Peoria Yard. I went ahead to the library, but left a little early, figuring I could shoot video of it after pulling Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard.  I should have left earlier for that, because I found the train crossing Cilco Lane at Sommer. Notably, the train had 19 boxcars dominating a 26-car pickup from UP.  The train headed west a short time later, reported going through Canton at 2050 hours.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton-E. Peoria Turn is shown  on its return leg at the Route 9 crossing near Hollis, Illinois early-evening Wednesday, March 27, 2024. A short time later, it is shown at Kolbe (Mapleton) where it stops for switching before h...

Late afternoon last Sunday, I noticed Union Pacific's MCLPE switching its train into Adams Street Yard. I've seen or heard of an early trip happening for this train in recent months. Normally, it is called at Clinton late Sunday PM and runs overnight, arriving at Adams Street before sunrise. Now if a Decatur coal train has to get through, MCLPE ties up at Edelstein. In that case, the LPD01 crewbrings it in later in the day.  So I wondered if I could catch MCLPE this Sunday afternoon. Sure enough, an empty northbound coal train pulled into Edelstein Siding to await passage of a southbound... CAPTION: An empty northbound coal train enters Edelstein Siding late-afternoon Sunday, March 24, 2024. UP 6649 and UP 5658 have 118 cars. UP 5364 is DPU. This train will wait for the passage of MCLPE, which came by shortly. ...which happened to be MCLPE. I caught it at the Oertly Road crossing and again off Kickapoo Creek Road by the Harman Highway overpass. I don't know if this is a ne...

I had to work today, so I missed another TP&W M-EFEP moving in great afternoon light. But I did manage to capture an Iowa Interstate SIPE, having a heads up that it was coming.  I left the downtown library early, drove up Rt. 29 and encountered the train before Mossville. Consist had the usual distillers dried grain loads and alcohol empties.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by the old San Koty Station area near Peoria Heights, Illinois late-afternoon Saturday, March 23, 2024. By early evening, it enters the North Limit Yard and the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad. IAIS 508 and IAIS 708 have 47 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Yucky weather, but at least I got it today.  If all were running, four units ensured the wintry mix would not likely cause wet rails to stall the train by Reservoir Boulevard.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Friday, March 22, 2024. UP 6784, UP 8937, UP 5637 and UP 7099 have 47 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Peoria International Airport is getting a new control tower control tower . Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL) announced yesterday a $30 million federal grant for the project. Groundbreaking is expected in July - David P. Jordan

I happened to catch this local early evening leaving Kolbe for Colllier Yard. Given the late hour, I wonder if it an extra EPX1 rather than the usual EP1 symbol?  Cars appear to be either tallow empties from Evonik, corn syrup empties and sorbitol loads from Ingredion, and an "environmentally hazard liquid" empty (UN 3082) on the rear, which I'm guessing is from Evonik. Not since I saw a southbound the local the evening of July 18, 2023 have I seen any indication of foundry sand traffic moving to Caterpillar's foundry. I'd like to know what is going on with that.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local runs along the Keokuk Junction Railway as it departs the Kolbe (Mapleton), Illinois area early-evening Monday, March 18, 2024. TZPR 2133 has 15 cars for Collier Yard at Bartonville...and beyond.   David P. Jordan

Another day, another monster Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway road freight!  A summary of the train's monster consist shows the variety of traffic moving westbound on the TP&W these days -  eleven covered hoppers CORN eight hoppers LIMESTONE two covered hoppers ORGANIC GRAIN two covered hoppers LOADS ???? four gondolas L/C wire rod one cenerbeam flat LUMBER two covered hoppers DDGS two covered hoppers ZINC OXIDE two tank cars L/C nitrogen eight tank cars HOME SHOP five covered hoppers L/C soybeans two covered hoppers SOYBEAN MEAL? two covered hoppers ZINC OXIDE nine covered hoppers DDGS? 54 covered hoppers L/C soybeans three covered hoppers ZINC OXIDE one tank car L/C amines (UN 2735) two covered hoppers L/C grain or dry fertilizer 13 tank cars L/C nitrogen (last one HOME SHOP) CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) is shown early- to mid-afternoon Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Fairbury, Chenoa, Gridley, El Paso,...

The crew radioed the dispatcher just as I exited I-474 onto northbound SW Adams Street, so the timing worked out well.  Today's MPECL had a decent-sized consist and typical traffic, including boxcars from KJRY and zinc oxide loads from TP&W. The train picked up empty MOW flat cars at Edelstein Siding.  CAPTION:   Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, March 15, 2024. UP 6815 and UP 5434 have 58 cars. At Edelstein Siding, the train picked up empty flats, which last contained concrete ties.   David P. Jordan

I kept my rule this afternoon: If I can catch a TP&W road freight, do it!  Comparing Tuesday's M-EFEP and today's M-EPEF, ten cars were on both trains! Seven PMRX hoppers arrived Tuesday with crushed limestone consigned to East Peoria Materials/The Rogers Group. All seven were on today's eastbound. Three CRDX covered hoppers behind the limestone empties were also on both trains, but empty both ways. They must have been pulled as empties somewhere, hauled west and then "turned" at East Peoria for some reason.  CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EPEF (Manifest, E. Peoria IL to Effner IL) rolls by Ernest Street on the southwest edge of Washington, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, March 14, 2024. HESR 3485, TPW 2105, TPW 5015, TPW 5010 and TPW 3443 have 144 cars. At Cruger, the train set out the block of 26 Incobrasa Industries covered hoppers for loading at Grainland Cooperative, reducing length to 118 cars as it rolled by N. Main Street in E...

  List,  I missed Union Pacific's MPECL on Tuesday because for reasons unknown left Adams Street Yard early. But I did get a TP&W westbound road freight.  CAPTION:  Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) rolls across Ernest Street southwest of Washington, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, March 12, 2024. HESR 3485, TPW 3443, IMRR 2084, IMRR 2108 and TZPR 2133 have 85  - David P. Jordan 

Daylight Savings Time came just in time. Last week, it would have been dark when I saw BNS's M-GALPEI Monday evening.  I knew it had passed Yates City around 1735 hours, so I went to the West Farmington Road crossing and waited. The train went by me about 1828 hours. Then I decided to capture it again entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street. The evening arrival brings back memories of seeing BN's 13814 locals here early evenings in the mid-1990s.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois early evening Monday, March 11, 2024. Later, it enters Tazewell & Peoria Railroad rails at Darst Street for the trip across the river to the East Peoria Yard. BNSF 6558 and BNSF 6298 have 42 cars (21 loads/21 empties).   David P. Jordan

Today's MPECL left a bit later than usual, but with the longer days it doesn't matter too much.  Eight empty ballast cars were on this one. I should also note that the 14 zinc oxide loads on the train were the same one TP&W attempted to drag west on Sunday, only to be stalled at Secor due to locomotive issues. The cars were brought into East Proria on Monday. If not for those issues on Sunday, it is possible those cars would have been on Tuesday's MPECL.  UP 1476, a GP40M-2, is still at Adams Street Yard. 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 Friday, March 8, 2024. UP 5268 and UP 6746 have 59 cars. - David P. Jordan

Union Pacific's freight left around the normal time this afternoon. It was short, but nearly have of the cars were boxcars! Had Sunday's TP&W westbound not stalled at Secor, 14 zinc oxide loads might have made it on today's train.  I should note that GP40M-2 1476 was back, and reportedly used by the LPD01 job today. I noticed it coupled to a cut of ballast loads in the yard.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, March 5, 2024. UP 7481 and UP 7117 have 26 cars. I knew the NS local was still in town when I was waiting for the UP freight to leave. But I didn't have to backtrack all the way to N. Main Street near Morton to see it! An hour separates these two videos. But the N. Main Street location is a good one, especially when NS trains work hard to run uphill.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 is shown late-afternoon ...

After locomotive issues forced a retreat late-Sunday afternoon, TP&W tried again Monday.  I caught it at Washington, but decided a power runby at the Route 8 overpass would do so I had to time to capture the train again a few miles west at Ernest Street. I missed it crossing the Farmdale Trestle but managed to capture it entering yard limits, cutting off the eight crushed limestone loads on the head end and spot them at The Rogers Group/East Peoria Materials quarry! The other cars are for interchange via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, including three tank cars (probably containing corn oil), eight DDGS loads for the Illinois & Midland, and 14 zinc oxide loads for Union Pacific.  CAPTION: An East Peoria Switcher crew went east engine lite Monday to fetch 33 manifest cars left just east of Secor late Sunday afternoon. Scenes are at the Route 8 underpass in Washington, nearby Ernest Street (whole train) and the approach to the East Peoria Yard, where the crew cuts o...

When it crossed the UP at Chenoa, it had well over 100 cars, perhaps half Incobrasa Industries covered hoppers.  The head end 33 cars taken west consisted of eight limestone loads, three tank cars (possibly corn oil loads) and eight DDGS loads from The Andersons' Clymers, Indiana ethanol plant, and 14 zinc oxide loads from WSP's Clymers, Indiana plant.  CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) tied up east of Chenoa, Illinois by Saturday PM/Sunday AM March 3, 2024. So a crew out of East Peoria ran engine lite to fetch it. Unfortunately, locomotive issues forced them to pull the first 33 cars and leave the rest by the Prairie Central Coop rail loop at Greenfield. The shortened train is shown at Meadows, Gridley and El Paso. The train stalled just east of Secor, so the power was cut off and run to East Peoria. IORY 5007, IMRR 2108, MQT 3407, IORY 5014 and TPW 2070 were on the point.   David P. Jordan

Late this morning, I went to Havana hoping that a used bookstore would have some old Illinois Rail Plan Annual Updates. Enroute, radio chatter told me that a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local would run from the Ice House up the double track to Grove and then hold due to a broken rail which was being repaired. I just missed a chance to capture the train on the riverfront, so I settled for a spot by Worley Lake along Rt. 29. Just one gluten feed (or DDGS) load and two alcohol loads.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Local leaves Pekin, Illinois for East Peoria late-morning Saturday, March 2, 2024. TZPR 1352 has three cars.   I was disappointed with Havana. The bookstore where I bought the 1977, 1978 and 1979 editions of the Illinois Rail Plan Annual Update years ago had nothing else. But a trip along the Illinois & Midland Railroad always yields some interest. The were seven tank cars on spot at the Darling Ingredients transload in Havana, and plenty of wind tur...

When I noticed the GP40M-2 on the point, I was determined to capture it on video, NOT MATTER HOW LATE IT LEFT! Fortunately, it departed a little before 4:30.  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 Friday, March 1, 2024. UP 1476 and UP 7117 have 50 cars.   - David P. Jordan