Peoria Station

I took a ("use it or lose it") floating holiday today, so I'm attempting to capture what I normally miss. My first success was Norfolk Southern's arriving local, D49. I went across the river shortly for lunch. When I returned less than an hour later, NS power was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, TZPR hadn't any cars for them, which seems odd for a Friday.  This afternoon's Union Pacific train MPECL will likely be a monster as Adams Street Yard is full of cars. I hope they leave before the storms hit... CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown late-morning Friday, March 31, 2023 shortly before arriving the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. NS 6122 and NS 6108 had 20 cars. Power apparently left engine lite less than an hour later. I chose between this one and Union Pacific's MPECL. TP&W operations are much less predictable, so I'm glad I got this. Turns out, I shot it in the last place...

When I saw an empty BNSF coal train entering home rails at S. Darst Street in mid-afternoon, I figured there'd be another chance to capture simultaneous train movements on both BNSF and UP Peoria Subs at W. Farmington Road. Sure enough, it happened, but I went to Pottstown to avoid being trapped by the coalie and unable the the UP, which was my priority. (You briefly see the coal hoppers at far right in my video.) Notable traffic on today's train included scrap metal loads from Hitchcock Scrap Yard's KJRY-served Canton transload facility.  It appears that quite a few cars were left behind at Adams Street Yard, which has been a common occurance lately. A weight per axle limit is the likely reason as a single locomotive is tasked to handle the train. Otherwise, it would stall across Reservoir Boulevard and force the crew to double the hill and re-assemble the train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) enters the double track at Pottstown, ...

A cloud bank killed good lighting, but at least I bagged this train!  BNSF Railway's H-IHBGAL the only pair of daily manifests running on the Chillicothe Subdivision east of the Cameron Connection, just southwest of Galesburg. A pair of locals, L-CHI104 and L-CHI105, work most weekdays between Galesburg and Willow Springs. On weekends, M-GALCHI and M-CHIGAL perform 104/105's work. All other movements are intermodal trains, with a few vehicle trains and  sprinkling of grain trains.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train H-IHBGAL (High Priority Manifest Indiana Harbor Belt to Galesburg IL) rolls by N. Rice Road just east of Princeville, Illinois early-afternoon Sunday, March 26, 2023. BNSF 608, BNSF 1118 and CP 2304 have 84 cars. - David P. Jordan

Just as I prepared to leave Morton, I could actually hear the Iowa Interstate dispatcher talking to a train crew on IAIS 714, issuing a track warrant from Peoria to Bureau Junction. Normally, I head straight to Adams Street Yard on Friday after work to check on Union Pacific's MPECL, but this time I went for the Limit Yard, heading north on Rt 29. I drove to Mossville but saw nothing. No matter, entering Rt. 6, I heard some chatter on the Union Pacific channel, prompting me to head for Pioneer at Brauer Road. Minutes later, MPECL showed up. Which goes to show that if I can't get one train, I can get another.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Pioneer, near the north end of the double track on Peoria, Illinois' northwest side late-afternoon Friday, March 24, 2023. UP 4203 has 56 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Another soggy and overcast day, but capturing unpredictable train movements remains a priority! I received a note from a friend that he'd seen Norfolk Southern's westbound local (D49) earlier this afternoon, so I figured I had a shot at seeing it leave. Sure enough, when I arrived TZPR's East Peoria Yard area, NS 6975 was on one of the Long Tracks. Minutes later, the crew radioed the dispatcher for permission to depart. I assume that either a late D32 from Decatur or time spent switching Rivian Automotive's ramp were possible reasons for the train's late turn to East Peoria.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 rolls out of East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, March 22, 2023 on its return trip to Good Yard in Normal. NS 6975 has 34 cars (24 loads, 10 empties). TP&W yard is at left. As D49 left the area, I learned that TP&W's westbound road freight, M-EFEP had past Fairbury enroute to East Peoria. I spent a little time at the downtown l...

Despite the soggy and overcast weather this afternoon, I decided to check on Union Pacific's MPECL as I usually do every Tuesday (I'm usually out that day so why not?). A cut of cars was left behind, likely due to weight-per-axle issues due to having only one locomotive.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls across W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, March 21, 2023. UP 7662 has 48 cars. I decided to capture another of Union Pacific's Central Illinois region manifests - MBNAS. Tuesday is the only day of the week that both MPECL and MBNAS operate. The recent time change enabled me to see the latter, which typically departs south out of Bloomington around 6:00pm after northbound Amtrak No. 318 clears. So I decided to give it a shot. Due to the rainy weather and lack of good places to shoot video in Bloomington, I opted for a crossing near Shirley, several miles southwest of town off Intersta...

 After a four-year gap, the Iowa Interstate Railroad is bringing excursions to Chillicothe on Saturday, June 3, 2023! The railroad has already done this on three occasions, and like the first two, trips will presumably serve both Henry and Chillicothe, starting at the former.  Details have yet to be worked out, but should be available shortly along with a flyer. See below for highlights from the 2014, 2016 and 2019 train trips. CAPTION: The Iowa Interstate Railroad operated four roundtrips between Henry and Chillicothe for the public and volunteers on Saturday, September 13, 2014. Power for these trips was IAIS 151 and 154 - both SD38-2s - bracketing eight former Montreal commuter coaches. Scenes are taken at various locations inside the train and trackside throughout the day between Henry, Sparland and Chillicothe. Runs were made to raise funds for local volunteer fire departments. CAPTION: The Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. operated roundtrip passenger excursions between He...