BNSF M-PEIGAL 4-8-26

I've caught this train ten times since I first noticed Ozinga Cement Co's barge-rail-truck terminal being put up at the lower end of the old Peoria Barge Terminal property in early November. On January 12, I noticed five OZIX empties on M-GALPEI, and started to wonder if these were for the new local facility or Harsco at Powerton.
 
Here's my reasoning: I saw Norfolk Southern D49 departing East Peoria on July 15, 2025 with a block of eight loaded twin bay covered hoppers - the middle four had OZIX markings - but this was before Ozinga's local terminal opened. Ozinga must be a customer for the granulated slag Harsco processes from coal ash, and it would make sense for the company to supply its own rolling stock for these shipments.
 
But since the local Ozinga facility opened last November, I've been trying to figure out what commodity(s) is handled, whether traffic is inbound, outbound or both and possible destinations. It became clear since January that BNSF was getting at least some of the loads. I finally caught them today. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) crosses the river on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad lift bridge into Peoria, Illinois and then approaches home rails at Darst Street early-evening Wednesday, April 8, 2026. BNSF 3769 and BNSF 5804 have 37 cars. Note six loaded OZIX twin-bay covered hoppers embedded in the consist. This is new business from Ozinga Cement Co's new (November 2025) barge-rail-truck terminal at the lower end of the old Peoria Barge Terminal.
 
- David P. Jordan

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