Norfolk Southern D49 in/out, BNSF M-PEIGAL, Union Pacific MPECL 7-3-26

When I was in Bloomington-Normal Thursday evening, I noticed that D32 had brought in quite a few cars for TZPR and connections, including steel coils for IAIS and steel scrap for Liberty Steel & Wire. I figured they'd run D49 on Friday. But when I decided to head into East Peoria this morning, I was seconds from missing it. Driving US 150 from Morton, I noticed the tail end on TP&W's West End. Fortunately, I head a green light at E. Washington Street. I pulled into the left of two turn lanes at the N. Main Street intersection just in time to shoot a going away video. It took an hour for D49 to turn around and depart with the outbound. Midday lighting this time of year can be a challenge, but Carver Lane proved to be a good location. 

Besides three steel coil loads for Iowa Interstate and 13 NS/WRWK gondolas that I believe contained scrap metal for Liberty Steel & Wire (I've seen TZPR locals handling these to and from Kickapoo Yard), there were two empty BNSF covered hoppers in the consist: BNSF 430881 and BNSF 436069. I caught the same two (of five) loaded on an inbound KJRY local June 5. I figured these were being used by Roquette America for corn product shipments, possibly corn germ to ADM's West Plant at Decatur. I'm guessing these cars have been cycling back and forth the past month, rather than their first return. 

The outbound train's first 15 cars were from the KJRY. 


CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Train D49 (Local, Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown arriving (N. Main Street) and departing (Carver Lane) East Peoria, Illinois late-morning Friday, July 3, 2026. NS 7034 and NS 6972 arrived the Tazewell & Peoria RR with 47 cars. NS 6972 and NS 7034 left with 33.

BNSF's M-GALPEI must have arrived East Peoria before D49, and the yard was so full, I did not know it was here. So I was surprised after a swing by Adams Street Yard the flashers at Krause Avenue and Darst Street activated just as I pulled off SW Washington. I didn't get there in time to shoot video of M-PEIGAL but that's okay.  Counterpart M-GALPEI must have been the last train to traverse this section as M-PEIGAL just rolled right through, the switch already lined for home rails. W. Farmington Road and Edwards were good spots, though the latter was a bit disappointing due to a nearby thunderhead blocking the sun...


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) is shown rolling by W. Farmington Road a few miles out of Peoria, Illinois, and Edwards a short time later. BNSF 5296 and BNSF 8072 have 24 cars.

My work holiday is today, so I took advantage of it. Union Pacific's MPECL ran its normal schedule, leaving Adams Street Yard in early afternoon. One traffic item: near the end of the consist - CMO 20722 and CMO 20929 - contain premium, non-GMO grain (not sure if corn or soybeans). I know because exactly a week ago (June 26), I photographed the same cars at Consolidated Grain & Barge Co's KJRY-served Burnside, Illinois elevator! 

In the first scene, you will here me coughing and gagging. Just before the train arrived, I swallowed a bug. So in case it messed up my video (it is a little jumpy, but just a little), I caught the train again at Pottstown. 


CAPTION: Union Pacific MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls where the old Harmon Highway bridge was until torn down earlier this year and later on the double track as it climbs Pioneer Hill early-afternoon Friday, July 3, 2026. UP 8013 and UP 9045 have 41 cars.

- David P. Jordan

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