TP&W EPX, Iowa Interstate PESI 9-15-24

This morning, I learned that Iowa Interstate's PESI was in town with IAIS 507. So I checked it out and saw the train string out on East Peoria Yard track A-41 and out onto the West Lead. But 507 was not yet on the point (it was on the Creve Coeur Team Track).
 
After church, I headed toward Rt. 29 and drove south toward Peoria in case the Iowa Interstate's PESI train. I did not yet see it, but when I arrived the Bridge Junction area, a TP&W local crossed the river on its way to Collier Yard (or Mapleton). All cars appeared to be for Mapleton industries. 


CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably an EPX, crosses the Illinois River into Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Sunday, September 15, 2014. Shortly, it rolls by S. Darst Street. The train stopped short of the BNSF switch so the conductor could line it for continued movement along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Kickapoo Main. TZPR 2133 has 15 cars.
 
In mid-afternoon, I returned to East Peoria and found 507 gone from the Team Track. So I knew it was on PESI. Except for a side trip to Mendenhall Road to check out a Powerton-bound Union Pacific coal train told to pause there due to police activity nearby. I waited for PESI some two hours when the crew received permission to depart at...get this...5:07pm! 


CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) is shown departing the West Lead in East Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, September 15, 2024. The train is about to cross the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge. Power runbys at Persimmon Street, the old (1900) Rock Island depot and whole train at Grant Street in Peoria. IAIS 507 has 121 cars.
 
It seems that last Sunday, SIPE's called time was changed from 1100 to 1700 at Silvis, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. PESI is on call Monday and Wednesday, with an extra crew taking PESI sometimes Friday, Saturday or Sunday. 

- David P. Jordan

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