BNSF X-SMRPEI and Union Pacific MPECL 6-25-24

When I swung by Adams Street Yard Tuesday afternoon, I could not confirm yet that a crew was aboard Union Pacific's MPECL. So I parked off Krause Ave. and waited. But BNSF had brought in an X-SMRPEI empty feed pellet train for Decatur (via Canadian National) and the crew radioed the dispatcher shortly after I arrived. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) has just entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, June 25, 2024. BNSF 6952 and BNSF 6614 were on the point. Gluten feed empties will move via Canadian National to ADM at Decatur, Illinois. 

After grabbing video of the BNSF feed empties, the Union Pacific crew asked the dispatcher for instructions. A work train was moving north, so MPECL was given a track warrant to Pioneer in the interim. Tuesday's train was unusually short. The third unit, however, makes me think Monday's MCLPE must have been a big train. 


CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, June 25, 2024. UP 5767, UP 7113 and UP 5319 have just 22 cars. 

David P. Jordan

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