Norfolk Southern D49, Iowa Interstate PESI, BNSF M-PEIGAL 4-25-25

Friday afternoon after work, I crossed the river on I-474 and then headed toward the downtown library. I picked up barely discernible radio chatter from the TZPR St. Albans dispatcher that prompted investigation. East Peoria traffic nearly prevented me from seeing the rear of Norfolk Southern train D49 shortly after clearing the TP&W Peoria Sub at Farmdale.

 

And East Peoria traffic kept from from getting ahead of it.

 

So I backtracked to Morton and got on I-74. I caught a glance of D49 at Crandall, but my decision to get ahead of it at Goodfield was the correct one. I actually shot this video about half way between Deer Creek and Goodfield. 

 

The second time I've seen D49 this week, I was hoping wire rod shipments from Liberty Steel & Wire would resume, but apparently, at least on Norfolk Southern (if at all). The first three covered hoppers may have contained organic grain. That a CUBX pressure-aid covered hopper and corn syrup tank car followed, make be conclude the three cars contained organic grain loaded at Burnside on the Keokuk Junction Railway. Three alcohol loads, a likely sorbitol load (Corn Products markings, from Ingredion at Mapleton), an animal fat empty, and 14 more alcohol loads are otherwise typical traffic. 

CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown rolling past Deer Creek, Illinois enroute back to Good Yard in Normal late-afternoon Friday, April 25, 2025. NS 6096 and NS 6915 have 24 cars.

 

After leaving the downtown library, I checked the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard and found BNSF M-PEIGAL on the East Lead blocking TZPR 1351 from shoving mash empties across the Nickel Plate and into the yard. Iowa Interstate PESI was on the West Lead. The latter went first. 

 

The train had six scrap metal loads from Alter Metal Recycling in Peoria, a coil steel load from Norfolk Southern, and ten covered hoppers (22nd to 31st cars, behind 21 mash and ahead of three empty UN 1170 placarded alcohol tank cars) loaded with an unknown grain or grain product by ADM (Decatur?). 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) crosses the Illinois River and rolls by BioUrja Renewables LLC on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division early evening Friday, April 25, 2025. IAIS 502, IAIS 153 and IAIS 151 have 103 cars (17 loads, 86 empties).

 

I shit video of PESI moving across the river and at the Ft. of Chicago Street. Before getting back in my car, I heard a horn to the south. I knew BNSF's M-PEIGAL was likely blowing for Sanger Street, so I made a left onto SW Washington and headed that way. Sure enough, the BNSF train was crossing Sanger, so I pulled into Darst Street and set up just in time to capture its passage. 

 

Today's BNSF westbound had a decent mix of loads and empties, including two more BNSF steel hoppers laden with iron oxide. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad shortly before entering homes rails at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois early evening Friday, April 25, 2025. BNSF 6426 and BNSF 3818 have 57 cars.

 

- David P. Jordan