BNSF, TZPR, TP&W and UP action 12-8-25

I took a floating holiday today in hopes of chasing the Keokuk Junction Railway local west from Mapleton. I learned that the eatbound local ran on Thursday, so I assumed that an East Peoria turn would run on Friday. I never did find it, though I went as far as Cuba.

Incidentally, two vehicles were at the Kolbe office. I did notice a hi-rail truck on the main near the Hollis Pass west switch. Perhaps Friday's East Peoria turn ran as far west as possible and the crew just left it somewhere west of Cuba? There is evidence of considerable crosstie replacement, as well as ballast and surfacing east of Canton. Perhaps track speeds have been raised on some sections? the stretch between Canton and Cuba, however, is still 10mph territory. 

 

The day wasn't a dud. I returned to Peoria in time to capture a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job crossing the river enroute to the North Limit Yard. Per radio chatter, the crew was going to switch BioUrja's alcohol tracks first. Lack of corn syrup loads and empty flat cars told me they were probably going to grab mash cars left by the Iowa Interstate because the East Peoria Yard was full. This gave me time to check on East Peoria, but I soon heard radio chatter between the TZPR's MOP and BNSF's M-GALPEI. 

 

Back across the river I went!

 

I had some time to spare, and as soon as M-GALPEI cleared the West Lead on its way into the East Peoria Yard, Union Pacific's LPD01 job returned to Adams Street Yard. 

 

After bagging my third train, I went back to East Peoria and encountered a TP&W transfer to TZPR probably running as EP2. Among the train's 82 cars were 20 gondolas loaded with iron oxide, presumably all for the IAIS. Likewise, a scattered 14 zinc oxide loads might all be for IMRR-CPKC as I have not seen those cars on Union Pacific's MPECL since January. Shortly, the BNSF's M-PEIGAL left East Peoria and then the TP&W crew grabbed a fourth unit and 38 cars for the return trip to the home terminal. 

 

By late-afternoon, a cloud bank was dimming remaining sunlight, but I decided to check on the TZPR local. Sure enough, it was building a train out of the North Limit Yard. I was able to shoot video at Morton Street. I should note that Bond Street south of there is being rebuilt with new concrete, and the tall vegetation has been removed. So shooting northbound TZPR or IAIS trains going past the new (1967) Rock Island depot will be easier for awhile. 

CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job crossed the Illinois River late-morning Monday, December 8, 2025. TZPR 1351 and TZPR 1521 had ten tank cars for the West Yard. Minutes later, it is shown crossing South Street in Peoria, Illinois. The crew switched BioUrja's Alcohol Tracks and then headed up to the North Limit Yard to grab 70 cars left by the Iowa Interstate. Four tank cars of an eleven-car block (1, 2, 10 and 11) were among the ten brought to the West Yard. In late-afternoon, TZPR 1521 and TZPR 1351 drag 74 cars by Morton Street.

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has just entered Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois enroute to East Peoria late-morning Monday, December 8, 2025. BNSF 7687 and BNSF 6949 have 21 cars. In early afternoon the same day, counterpart M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) has crossed the river and enters home rails at S. Darst Street. BNSF 6949 and BNSF 7687 have 45 cars (14 loads, 31 empties). Note two Komatsu truck chassis loads and two Caterpillar D10 tractor loads on the head end, separated by a coiled wire rod load.

CAPTION: Union Pacific train LPD01, the Adams Street Yard-based wayfreight, pulls up to Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois with cars from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in East Peoria late-morning Monday, December 8, 2025. UP 8135 and UP 5863 have 39 cars.

CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP2, ran a transfer to and from sister Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard Monday afternoon, December 8, 2025. HESR 2107, IORY 3472 and TPW 2056 delivered 82 cars. TPW 2056, IORY 3472, HESR 2107 returned home with CFE 3316 and 38 cars.

 

- David P. Jordan