NS D49, UP MPECL, BNSF M-PEIGAL 8-2-24

Another productive Friday!
 
Union Pacific's MPECL is a priority after work on Friday, so I was taking a risk going after Norfolk Southern's D49. I knew that train arrived East Peoria around 1:30pm, so there was a good chance to catch the return trip after work. Sure enough, I learned the train had clearance to leave the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard shortly before 3:00pm. I grabbed what I needed at home and headed east on I-74. I knew I would be successful because I happened to see the train in the distance at Crandall Junction. I got off at the next exit (Goodfield) and waited. The train showed up in a short time. 


CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) rolls through Goodfield, Illinois on its return leg to Good Yard in Normal mid-afternoon Friday, August 2, 2024. NS 7025 and NS 7034 have 35 cars, most from the Keokuk Junction Railway's Thursday afternoon delivery.
 
I didn't know if I had missed Union Pacific's MPECL, but was heading into Peoria anyway. The train had already left Adams Street Yard when I swung by around 4:00pm, but radio chatter indicated it was nearby. This was confirmed by (1) a crew van was parked off Kickapoo Creek Road just south of Harmon Highway (old Molitor Junction area) and (2) the signal at W. Farmington Road displayed a green indication for a northbound.
 
I waited at the latter a bit and decided to check on the train. Before coming to Harmon Highway, I noticed the train through the trees, made a quick U-turn and headed to Pottstown, as I knew I'd missed it if I chanced returning to W. Farmington Road. I'm glad I did Pottstown as I was able to start shooting the train approaching the double track. 


CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) enters the double track and climbs the hill at Pottstown, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, August 2, 2024. UP 5686 and UP 8320 have 34 cars.
 
Later, I learned that BNSF's M-PEIGAL was preparing to depart East Peoria. Earlier in the afternoon, a crew had been driven down to delivery M-GALPEI, parked in the New Long Thursday afternoon, to East Peoria and take M-PEIGAL west. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) departs East Peoria, Illinois early evening Friday, August 2, 2024. Shortly, it approaches S. Darst Street and home rails. BNSF 8236 and BNSF 7489 have 60 cars (37 loads, 23 empties).
 
David P. Jordan

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