TP&W M-EFEP, Iowa Interstate PESI 4-16-25

While at work, I learned that a TP&W westbound was on the move, so I hoped to see it after work. I was able to capture it at Cruger and at Ernest Street just southwest of Washington. Unlike recent encounters, today's was a long train. 

CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway westbound road freight, sometimes called "M-EFEP" (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL), rolls by the first Union Pacific-bound grain train to be loaded at Grainland Co-Op's Cruger, Illinois elevator late-afternoon Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Later, the train is seen at Ernest Street just southwest of Washington. IORY 5013, HESR 2107 and RCPE 3481 have 95 cars (the first seven were pulled from Piper City).

 

I was hoping to capture Iowa Interstate's next PESI. As I hoped, the two iron oxide loads that were on Sunday's TP&W westbound into East Peoria were on it. Look for the 71st and 72nd cars in the video.

 

A dozen scrap metal loads on the rear are also notable.

 

I should point out that 26 of 70 ADMX/leaser covered hoppers were loaded. The loads were not blocked together (6 and 19 separated by one car in the first block of covered hoppers, and the other in the second block of covered hoppers behind the tank cars). I'm not sure if these came from Decatur on CN - back haul corn to Cedar Rapids? Back haul soybeans to Des Moines? There does seem to be regular interchange volume generated by ADM between IAIS and CN at TZPR's East Peoria Yard. Loads and empties in both directions. 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and the old (1900) Rock Island depot in downtown Peoria, Illinois on an overcast early evening Tuesday, April 16, 2025. Later, the train is at Peoria Heights and again at Mossville on home rails. IAIS 150 and IAIS 152 have 100 cars. 

- David P. Jordan