BNSF M-GALPEI, Union Pacific Wind Tower Train

After work, I made my usual trip to the downtown library, with appropriate detours.
 
After exiting I-74 in East Peoria, I noticed what I thought might be a Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train preparing to shove a few tank cars out of the west end of the yard and run Norfolk Southern's Bloomington District to Crandall Junction and then into Morton. Turns out, it was probably just a short train returning from Collier Yard in Bartonville.
 
Shortly, I heard the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad dispatcher give BNSF's M-GALPEI permission to enter his property at Darst Street when river traffic cleared and the bridge was lowered. That gave me time to get to Krause Avenue in time to capture the train's passage. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has just entered Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, September 22, 2025. BNSF 7167 and BNSF 6748 have 30 cars for the East Peoria Yard.

And how cool that I see a wind turbine tower train in the area exactly 17 years to the day of my THIS DAY IN HISTORY post? Different railroad and destination, but still...
 
When I learned this train had entered the Union Pacific Peoria Sub at Barr/I&M Junction, I left the downtown library and got to Christmas Tree Road with only minutes to spare...
 
I assume the UP crew that took it north actually ran around it somewhere across the river (Sommer Siding? The Pottstown-Pioneer double track? Edelstein Siding?) and then delivered it (or will deliver it) to the Illinois & Midland Railroad at Crescent Yard. That is assuming the destination is Havana Dock & Rail. 


CAPTION: Union Pacific train SSJPEW (Special, South Junction CO to Peoria IL Wind) arrives South Pekin, Illinois early evening Monday, September 22, 2025. The train pulled up to Christmas Tree Road, the conductor got off and lined the switch for the main track, boarded again and the engineer rolled to a stop a short distance away for a crew change. UP 6449 and UP 5571 have 60 cars loaded with towers manufactured by CS Wind.

- David P. Jordan

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