BNSF M-GALPEI, KJRY EP Turn, Iowa Interstate PESI, TZPR industry 3, TP&W EPX1 2-11-26

Six of seven train movements (including the Keokuk Junction Railway train in both directions) were recorded in about a two-hour period Wednesday mid- to late-afternoon. 
 
While I've seen nothing official, it is obvious BNSF's M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL trains are running Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The change, I believe, was implemented sometime after last April when Thursday runs were moved to Fridays. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by Bridge Junction and then across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge mid-afternoon Wednesday, February 11, 2026. BNSF 6047 and BNSF 3801 have 44 cars.
 
I caught the KJRY local's arrival but did not plan to stick around for its departure. I happened to hear the crew ask permission to depart the East Lead for Iowa Junction when I was still closeby, so I turned around and caught it after all. I'm glad I did, as I got one with an "Omaha Track" gondola for the first time.


CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway ran its East Peoria turn on Wednesday afternoon, February 11, 2026. LTEX 6437, LNW 3807 and LTEX 3010 are shown with 18 cars crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge in mid-afternoon. By late-afternoon, LTEX 3010, LNW 3807 and LTEX 6437 left East Peoria with 28 cars.
 
River traffic delayed the Iowa Interstate train's departure. I decided to capture the whole train at the bridge because it would have been dark by the time it was on home rails. 


CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, February 11, 2026. IAIS 512 has 73 cars.
 
Another reason not to chase the Iowa Interstate train to home rails was this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local (I heard "Industry 2" on my scanner). The empty CN boxcar, which last contained zinc ingots, was nice to see. 


CAPTION: Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 2" crosses the Illinois River late-afternoon Wednesday, February 11, 2026. TPW 2056 has five cars from Kickapoo Yard on Peoria, Illinois' far south edge.
 
I missed TP&W's EPX1 job deliver five cars to Collier Yard, and return to East Peoria engine lite ahead of the Keokuk Junction Railway local's departure. But I lingered in East Peoria out of curiosity. The TZPR's Manager of Operations (MOP) suggested the four empties assigned to pickup were "hot." I'm not sure why as they were empties. I went home and learned that the same job was going to Morton. 


CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway EPX1 (E. Peoria Extra) delivered five cars to Collier Yard mid-afternoon Wednesday, February 11, 2026, and returned to East Peoria engine lite. That is where we begin in late-afternoon as IORY 3472 pulls four empties from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria back to the home terminal. Flashers activated late at N. Main Street, requiring the conductor to flag the crossing. Later, the same crew shoves a loaded herbicide tank car across E. Main Street and Jackson Street/US 150 in Morton, Illinois. IORY 3472 crosses Jackson Street/US 150 engine lite after finishing its work.

David P. Jordan

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