BNSF M-GALPEI, TP&W EP2, Union Pacific MPECL, BNSF M-PEIGAL 5-2-25

I left work early and glad that I did. BNSF's M-GALPEI was waiting at S. Darst Street to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property until TPW 2105, running engine lite, got clear. Radio chatter indicated a high-wide load, which is unusual for M-GALPEI since Caterpillar ceased assembling wheel loaders, wheel dozers and soil compactors at the Montgomery (Aurora), Illinois plant in 2019. While I could not see any markings indicating its manufacturer, the electrical transformer riding on that eight-axle Kasgro heavy-duty flat car was probably manufactured by Asea Brown Boveri in St. Louis. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Southern Division at Krause Avenue in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, May 2, 2025. BNSF 4101 and BNSF 5014 have 65 cars. Note the electric transformer load on the head end.

 

The TP&W local had but five cars to grab from Collier Yard, so it did not take long for it to return to East Peoria. I happened to catch it at Krause Avenue in Peoria. The phosphoric acid tank cars were from the Union Pacific, and are probably consigned to Wilson Industrial Sales in Goodland, Indiana. 

CAPTION: Toledo Peoria & Western Railway EP2 (East Peoria Switcher) ran engine lite from East Peoria to Collier Yard in Bartonville late-morning Friday, May 2, 2025. A short time later, it returned to East Peoria with five cars. Shown at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois on its lite engine run and at Krause Ave. on its return leg. TPW 2105 is on the point. Four of five cars contain phosphoric acid.

 

An earlier call time for Union Pacific's MPECL (reportedly noon, three hours earlier) means I won't be seeing it much as I am at work then. So I took advantage of the situation today. The crew called the dispatcher just before 1300 hours and was moving within 10 minutes. I waited at W. Farmington Road. My favorite spot. 

CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, May 2, 2025. UP 5331 has 38 cars.

 

Based on earlier radio chatter, I knew BNSF's M-GALPEI crew would return west with M-PEIGAL, so I waited. Sure enough, the train departed in late afternoon, the fourth Friday in a row I've seen it. Of note, the three steel hoppers - BNSF 646090, BNSF 646848 and BNSF 646751 - were on Wednesday's TP&W westbound. Loaded with iron oxide, they managed to get through Peoria in two days. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL is shown at several locations as it departs the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad late-afternoon Friday, May 2, 2025. First, the Illinois River Bridge and then the whole train slowing and then stopped at S. Darst Street to line the switch onto home rails. The train is also shown at W. Farmington Road and Edwards. BNSF 5014 and BNSF 4101 have 62 cars.

 

- David P. Jordan