Norfolk Southern D49, TP&W Morton 8-11-25

When I exited westbound I-74 toward E. Washington Street this afternoon, I happened to notice Norfolk Southern's D49 local power and cars behind it. I wasn't expecting to see it on Monday, but perhaps more Liberty Steel & Wire traffic is requiring more frequent East Peoria runs. 

 

I hope so. 

 

D49 used to make the East Peoria trip to interchange with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad five days a week. Of course, Decatur-Normal connecting locals D32/D36 used to cycle daily, but apparently do not anymore for lack of crews. 

 

Today's train had the usual plastic pellet traffic from the Illinois & Midland RR, coiled wire rod, steepwater, alcohol and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid loads from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and coil steel empties from Iowa Interstate. The truck coil springs on the four AEX covered hoppers were open, i. e. empty. Makes me wonder if The Andersons (AEX) Clymers, Indiana ethanol plant is routing DDGS/Mash to the IMRR-served Crystal Lake barge loadout via Norfolk Southern now instead of TP&W???

CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL) rolls under the TP&W's Farmdale Trestle as it begins its climb uphill toward Crandall, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, August 11, 2025. NS 7034 and NS 6923 have 39 cars.

I wasn't planning to go anywhere at 10:50pm when I heard the horn, but given the rarity of train action in town, I decided it worthwhile. Street lamps allow for decent video. 

CAPTION: One of the rare occasions that the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway services Morton, Illinois on a remnant of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway's Pekin District happened late-evening Monday, August 11, 2025. TPW 2056 arrived engine lite to pull one empty tank car from Fort Transfer Company. First scene shows it moving across Jefferson Street, then Jackson Street (US 150) and then at E. Main Street after a few switching maneuvers.

- David P. Jordan

 

- David P. Jordan