TP&W to TZPR Transfer 7-20-25

I happened to see the train on the TP&W "Peoria Sub" (West Main) preparing for departure, so I waited near W. Washington Street. Sure enough, the crew asked for permission to deliver to the "hump." I decided to return home to change clothes and get something to eat, and when I returned to East Peoria, I caught the tail end of the return trip, which had grabbed those 25 cars off the Nickel Plate from yesterday. 

 

I missed this move, expecting it to take longer. Hopefully, it will become a regular deal. I can confirm that the 25 cars were loaded at Western Grain Marketing's Atterberry elevator, and pulled Friday. That TP&W grabbed them and took them to its home terminal in East Peoria tells me they will head east soon on the "M-train" with a Gilman destination.

 

Most likely, the cars contain soybeans for Incobrasa Industries. WGM-Atterberry is likely to send corn to Alto Pekin. If not trucked (or shipped by rail) to the Peoria-Pekin area for transfer to barges, then Incobrasa Industries is WGM's most likely soybean market. There are others, of course - ADM at Decatur (via Springfield and CN) and Mexico (MO) via Springfield and CPKC come to mind - but shortline-only interline movements like IMRR-TZPR-TPW to Gilman mean lower rates. 

 

I would have expected such a movement to use Incobrasa covered hoppers. This being summer, the TP&W cars were available. Incobrasa cars will likely be used if this move is repeated in the future. 

CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway transfer nears its destination, sister Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, midday Sunday, July 20, 2025. TPW 3440 and TPW 5008 have 50 cars (phosphate, zinc and iron oxide loads, and empties). Crew grabbed 25 loads that came off the IMRR on Saturday and returned to the home terminal, but I just missed that :)

 

- David P. Jordan