Peoria Station

On my way to the downtown library this morning, I noticed a TP&W train building a train at the west end of the East Peoria Yard. I figured it was close to departing, so I stopped off W. Washington Street. Sure enough, radio chatter confirmed my suspicions.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway East Peoria Switcher negotiates the curve toward the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to make a delivery late-morning Saturday, April 27, 2024. IORY 5014 has 32 cars.   Waiting for the TP&W transfer to show itself, I had already received a heads up on Iowa Interstate's SIPE. As soon as the TP&W passed my position, I headed north along Rt. 29, encountering SIPE just before The Narrows. I turned around and set up at Lorentz Ave.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division at the North Limit Yard midday Saturday, April 27, 2024. IAIS 517 and IAIS 700 have 59

Union Pacific's MPECL left shortly after I drove by Adams Street Yard in mid-afternoon.  In case the sky let loose, I parked off W. Farmington Road where I can shoot video from my car. Turns out, I didn't need to do that. The clouds broke and sunshine came with the train.  Note the 24-car block of plastic pellet covered hoppers on the rear.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 26, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 72 cars.   David P. Jordan

I left work two hours early this afternoon so I could visit the Illinois State Library in Springfield. It seems to be the last one which possesses a copy of both the 1985 and 1987 Illinois Rail Plan Updates.  I left around 4:00 and followed CN's Gilman Sub to Mount Pulaski. I knew northbound local L556 often can be seen here in late-afternoon, so I decided it was worth a shot.  When I arrived town, there was no sign of the train having been there (a few cars for Gilman Sub customers were parked near the Rt. 54 overpass, but I figured I was early anyway.  I went to Casey's gas station for a little bit and then headed south of Rt. 121. The train appeared before I even reached Latham... CAPTION: A northbound Canadian National Railway train out of Decatur, Illinois rolls northbound near Mount Pulaski, Rt. 121 near Lincoln, Delavan and 5th Street near South Pekin late-afternoon Wednesday, April 24, 2024. CN 8009 and KCS 4185 have 100 gluten feed loads for BNSF via the Tazewell &

I checked Adams Street Yard as usual, and it wasn't long before the crew showed up, departed and radioed the dispatcher for instructions. A TP&W-BNSF grain train was parked under the Adams Street viaduct. With a single unit on the east end, I figured it was a westbound train.  MPECL was given a track warrant from Peoria Junction north to Pioneer, where it waited for a southbound loaded Powerton coal train. I waited at W. Farmington Road.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, April 23, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 36 cars.    I stepped back across the BNSF main track. The gates stayed down and less than two minutes after the Union Pacific freight cleared, I heard another horn.  CAPTION: A westbound BNSF Railway grain extra rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Train was loaded on the TP&W. BNSF 5947 and BNSF 4448 hav

While at the downtown library this afternoon, I learned that BNSF Railway's M-GALPEI was enroute. I left earlier than usual so I could see the train at the W. Farmington Road crossing (a favorite going back to childhood). Sure enough, the train showed up with an unusually short consist. I shot video of the train a second time as it entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road near the end of its run late-afternoon Monday, April 22, 2024. Later, the train enters Tazewell & Peoria Railroad territory at S. Darst Street to cross the river and deliver to that carrier's East Peoria Yard. BNSF 5355 and BNSF 9066 have a shorter-than-usual 20 cars.     David P. Jordan

I parked by W. Farmington Road late this afternoon, hoping Union Pacific's MCLPE would show up. When I arrived, the position light signals displayed yellow. I could stay a little while, so I did. Eventually, I heard a distant horn. The UP signal was still yellow, so I figured it was an eastbound BNSF train, but because of the shadows, I decided to cross the road. Then, I noticed the UP signal had changed to red for a northbound. I heard a second horn blast, which was at Pottstown. Now I knew a Union Pacific southbound was approaching.... CAPTION: Union Pacific train MCLPE (Manifest, Clinton IA to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road near the end of its journey to Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, April 21, 2024. UP 8950 and UP 7099 have 38 cars.   David P. Jordan

I found out too late that a seven-car Norfolk Southern local D49 behind NS 7014 was leaving East Peoria. At least I got it last night coming in! Union Pacific's usual Tuesday MPECL departed around 1615 hours and I shot video at the old Molitor Junction area at Milepost 80. Short train, but a decent encounter that could well have been cancelled by a heavy thunderstorm! The rain had passed but it was windy! 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, April 16, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 39 cars. - David P. Jordan

I didn't stick around to see it depart (which it probably hasn't as of this post), but I did get the inbound. Interestingly, the first nine cars - all covered hoppers - appeared loaded. Kind of unusual.  Perhaps these came from a point off the Bloomington District? I would be surprised if Bloomer Line-served One Earth Energy LLC or DuPont soybean processing plants at Gibson City would send DDGS or soybean meal, respectively, to Peoria-Pekin barge loadouts or interchanges.  The gondola has what appear to be engine blocks for scrapping (at KJRY-served Hitchcock Scrap Yard in Canton). CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 is shown at W. Washington Street in East Peoria, Illinois well after dark Monday, April 15, 2024. After hitting a truck at a private crossing by the TP&W's Farmdale Trestle, the regular crew tied up and repairs were made to the lead unit. Later, a relief crew drove up to interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad. NS 7000 and NS 7014 have

This afternoon's MPECL waited for passage of a southbound grain extra from Sterling, so I managed to catch two trains on Friday.  CAPTION: A Union Pacific grain extra rolls by W. Farmington Road late afternoon Friday, April 12, 2024. UP 5446 and UP 2762 have 112 cars. UP 7809 is DPU. Train was loaded at Rock River Lumber & Grain Co.   Train MPECL appeared just fifteen minutes after the grain extra passed W. Farmington Road so it was likely already waiting at Peoria Junction.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 12, 2024. UP 8950 and UP 7099 have 36 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Despite the pouring rain, I decided it might be worth lingering in East Peoria this afternoon for a TZPR 1521 pulling a transfer to the TP&W. It took long enough to appear. Had it appeared moments after I arrived my spot just up from W. Washington Street, the rain would have held off just long enough... I didn't stick around to see if TZPR 1521 returned with any cars, but I don't think it did.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Lead Job pulls across W. Washington Street in East Peoria late-afternoon Thursday, April 11, 2024. TZPR 1521 has 42 cars bound for the nearby TP&W yard.   Later, I learned that BNSF Railway's M-GALPEI had passed Elmwood. I was actually eastbound on I-74 just past Carlock enroute to Bloomington's Public Library. I decided to turn around and head back west in hopes of beating the train to W. Farmington Road. I had 15 minutes to spare! Was it worth it...you decide. I stayed around to get some night video at Sanger Street.  Radio cha

I left the library this evening know that Iowa Interstate train SIPE had departed Silvis a little after 1330 this afternoon. I figured I could stay until closing and then drive north on Rt. 29. Sure enough, I found the train rolling south of Chillicothe. A shot video at two locations and then heading through town to intercept a Keokuk Junction Railway local I learned had just departed East Peoria when I head north... CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls through Mossville, Illinois early evening Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Later, it is shown at the old San Koty station area as it nears Peoria. IAIS 503 and IAIS 718 have 34 cars (21 loads, 13 empties).   I caught up to the Keokuk Junction Railway local as it crossed CILCO Lane near Sommer. I figured I had time to make a left from US 24 onto Rt. 29, turned around and then park off road on northbound US 24. I didn't have to wait but a few minutes before the train was in view. The second unit, an ex-CN G

It was a short one today, and didn't depart until almost 1630 hours.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after entering the Peoria Subdivision mainline late-afternoon Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Later, it enters the double track at Pottstown. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 23 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I learned that a southbound Iowa Interstate freight had passed Sparland around 10:39 this morning, so after leaving church, I drove directly downtown, figuring I could beat it there.  As it wasn't anywhere in sight, I headed to the Limit Yard where I found it stopped so the conductor could line switches for continued movement along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division.  Rain showers dictated that I used the Murray Baker Bridge for cover.  I think it worked out pretty well.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Uptown Division" under Interstate 74/Murray Baker Bridge in downtown Peoria, Illinois on a rainy early-Sunday afternoon, April 7, 2024. IAIS 719 and IAIS 716 have 31 cars.   I went home, at lunch and uploaded the video, planning to return to East Peoria in time to capture Iowa Interstate's PESI departing.  I never saw it. I believe it already left by th

The tank car TP&W delivered to Fort Transfer Company in Morton on February 28 was pulled Tuesday, April 2. This morning, they delivered one car to Fort Transfer and returned to East Peoria engine lite.  As usual, I didn't hear it until it blew for the crossings on the way out of town... CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway crew used IORY 5007 to deliver a single tank car to Fort Transfer Company in Morton, Illinois late-morning Saturday, April 6, 2024. I couldn't hear the horn blowing until it departed engine lite. Various scenes at Nebraska Ave in Morton, and at Harding Road, Crandall Junction and along Norfolk Southern's Bloomington District at N. Main Street. Final view shows the tank car at Fort Transfer.   - David P. Jordan

It is a good day when the train departs shortly after I arrive, it is of decent-size (with a healthy complement of boxcars), and has four locomotives, including UP 1476.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after entering the mainline at Peoria Junction a mile away. Later, the train enters the double track at Pottstown. UP 7099, UP 8950, UP 7975 and UP 1476 have 62 cars. David P. Jordan Morton, Illinois 

A rainy first half of the week, and late-departure of Union Pacific's MPECL starved me of train videos until today. After work, I intended to visit the downtown library, but first checked activity at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. I'm glad I did because the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn had just pulled through the yard and stopped under the Cedar Street Extension. Wednesday's eastbound from western Illinois (La Harpe, or wherever the cfrew tied up last) included the road's newest unit, LTEX 3836. It was trailing on the East Peoria run, so it would lead on the westbound leg. But first, I received word that a westbound TP&W road freight was nearing Washington. So I quickly drove to Ernest Street and waited. Sure enough, the train showed up about five minutes later. CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) rolls by Ernest Street in Washington, Illinois late-afternoon T