Peoria Station

I just happened to notice the tail end of Norfolk Southern train D49 at Farmdale Switch in East Peoria, so I turned around and set up at Deer Creek and again at Carlock for video. Notice today's train has the same number of cars (23) as Wednesday's. CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown on its return leg to Good Yard in Normal, Illinois mid- to late-afternoon Friday, September 12, 2025. Scenes are at Deer Creek and Carlock. NS 4411, NS 7111 and NS 7034 have 23 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I checked the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard this afternoon after work, but did not see Norfolk Southern power anywhere, so after I had crossed the river was suprised to hear them get permission to depart. I was able to get back across the river and set up along Farmdale Road for video.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Local, Normal IL to E. Peoria Turn) is shown rolling out of East Peoria, Illinois on the return leg to Good Yard in Normal late-afternoon Wednesday, September 10, 2025. NS 7034 and NS 6972 have 23 cars. Just before hearing the NS crew get permission to depart, the Keokuk Junction Railway local asked for permission to leave. The dispatcher told them they would have to wait on the bridge (and I assume river traffic), so I went after the NS. When I returned to Peoria, I decided to check Collier Yard. No sign of the KJRY. I don't know if they had already left or not, as sometimes they run straight through Bartonville without worki...

I was stuck at work until 3:00pm today but learned that a Norfolk Southern extra (D09) had been called to fetch 53 grain loads from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in East Peoria. In late-summer, local grain elevators empty their silos to prepare for the harvest, thus unusual movements like this.     ADM Grain Co's Hilliards (Creve Coeur) elevator loaded these cars during the past week. The elevator can only handle 25 (or so) at a time, so TZPR had to pull one cut and spot more and combine them. I noticed what was probably part of the train sitting on the Nickel Plate on Thursday. Given the train's length, I am assuming it is consigned to an ADM plant in Decatur.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Train D09 (Bloomington District Extra) rolls between Deer Creek and Goodfield, Illinois mid-afternoon on September 6, 2025, a rare Saturday run out of East Peoria. NS 7561 and NS 9747 have 53 cars loaded at ADM Grain's Hilliards, Illinois elevator.   - David P. Jorda...

After work, I went into East Peoria hoping to see Norfolk Southern's D49 local leaving for Normal. Before I had a chance to check the TZPR yard, I heard the horn, and saw D49 approaching the E. Washington Street crossing. I decided to set up east of the Farmdale Trestle for video.    I liked the results.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Local, Normal IL to E. Peoria IL) rolls under the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway's Farmdale Trestle on the east edge of East Peoria, Illinois on its way back to Good Yard in Normal mid-afternoon Friday, September 5, 2025. NS 4486, NS 6085 and NS 3277 have 46 cars. Shortly after the NS local came into view, I learned that a TP&W eastbound was approaching Washington. I calculated that I had time to bag the NS local and then head east to capture the TP&W train.  CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway's eastbound M-train, sometimes called "M-EPEF," rolls by Grainland Farmers' Cruger, Illinois ...

I just missed its departure yesterday. How rare is it to be able to capture the same train the next day?   Shortly after arriving home this afternoon, I learned that D49 was still in the Farmdale area. I did not want to risk missing it by driving I-74 or Rt. 150 into East Peoria and then backtracking to Farmdale, I decided to wait at Crandall.   I made the right move. The train came by just before 4:00pm.    After tying up at Farmdale Road due to hours of service by Wednesday evening, I assumed the crew would finish its trip first thing Thursday morning. I'm not sure why they waited until afternoon. It was probably because they either used D32's power to perform local work in Bloomington-Normal this morning, and only had time to work Wednesday's East Peoria train in the afternoon.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown rolling across the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway's Morton Industrial Spur at Crand...