Union Pacific MPECL, BNSF Z-STOWSP 5-30-25

I learned that Union Pacific's MPECL departed Adams Street Yard a little before 3:00 Friday afternoon, so I took the chance and caught up with it. A possible misunderstanding over a meet with a southbound (which I never saw, but may have been a southbound grain train) at Pioneer (where I stopped and waited, hoping it had not yet ascended the hill) or Edelstein (where radio chatter indicated the train was already past my location).

 

I may have only caught up to it because the crew had to set out the seventh car, a loaded alcohol tank car, on the old fertilizer spur at Morse. I shot a little video of the train pulling away, and then waited for it to roll by me at the new El Camino station area. 

CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) set out a loaded alcohol tank car on the old fertilizer spur at Morse (near Bradford, Illinois) then pulls away to reconnect with the rest of the train. Later, it rolls by El Camino, future site of a Bartlett Grain elevator. UP 7986 and UP 5586 have 43 cars.

 

On my way back to Peoria, I came across an eastbound BNSF intermodal train. The reefers on the head end caught my attention. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway Z-STOWSP (Priority Intermodal, Stockton CA to Willow Springs IL) rolls under Santa Fe Road near Edelstein, Illinois early-evening Friday, May 30, 2025. Block of seven mechanical reefers on the head end identifies the train. BNSF 4259, BNSF 5091 and BNSF 7560 were on the point. Train had 282 axles.

 

- David P. Jordan