Peoria Station

The train left Adams Street Yard around 1620 hours, a little later than usual.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, April 30, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 40 cars.   David P. Jordan

On my way to the downtown library this morning, I noticed a TP&W train building a train at the west end of the East Peoria Yard. I figured it was close to departing, so I stopped off W. Washington Street. Sure enough, radio chatter confirmed my suspicions.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway East Peoria Switcher negotiates the curve toward the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to make a delivery late-morning Saturday, April 27, 2024. IORY 5014 has 32 cars.   Waiting for the TP&W transfer to show itself, I had already received a heads up on Iowa Interstate's SIPE. As soon as the TP&W passed my position, I headed north along Rt. 29, encountering SIPE just before The Narrows. I turned around and set up at Lorentz Ave.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division at the North Limit Yard midday Saturday, April 27, 2024. IAIS 517 and IAIS 700 have ...

Union Pacific's MPECL left shortly after I drove by Adams Street Yard in mid-afternoon.  In case the sky let loose, I parked off W. Farmington Road where I can shoot video from my car. Turns out, I didn't need to do that. The clouds broke and sunshine came with the train.  Note the 24-car block of plastic pellet covered hoppers on the rear.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, April 26, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 72 cars.   David P. Jordan

I left work two hours early this afternoon so I could visit the Illinois State Library in Springfield. It seems to be the last one which possesses a copy of both the 1985 and 1987 Illinois Rail Plan Updates.  I left around 4:00 and followed CN's Gilman Sub to Mount Pulaski. I knew northbound local L556 often can be seen here in late-afternoon, so I decided it was worth a shot.  When I arrived town, there was no sign of the train having been there (a few cars for Gilman Sub customers were parked near the Rt. 54 overpass, but I figured I was early anyway.  I went to Casey's gas station for a little bit and then headed south of Rt. 121. The train appeared before I even reached Latham... CAPTION: A northbound Canadian National Railway train out of Decatur, Illinois rolls northbound near Mount Pulaski, Rt. 121 near Lincoln, Delavan and 5th Street near South Pekin late-afternoon Wednesday, April 24, 2024. CN 8009 and KCS 4185 have 100 gluten feed loads for BNSF via the Tazewel...

I checked Adams Street Yard as usual, and it wasn't long before the crew showed up, departed and radioed the dispatcher for instructions. A TP&W-BNSF grain train was parked under the Adams Street viaduct. With a single unit on the east end, I figured it was a westbound train.  MPECL was given a track warrant from Peoria Junction north to Pioneer, where it waited for a southbound loaded Powerton coal train. I waited at W. Farmington Road.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, April 23, 2024. UP 7099 and UP 8950 have 36 cars.    I stepped back across the BNSF main track. The gates stayed down and less than two minutes after the Union Pacific freight cleared, I heard another horn.  CAPTION: A westbound BNSF Railway grain extra rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Train was loaded on the TP&W. BNSF 59...

While at the downtown library this afternoon, I learned that BNSF Railway's M-GALPEI was enroute. I left earlier than usual so I could see the train at the W. Farmington Road crossing (a favorite going back to childhood). Sure enough, the train showed up with an unusually short consist. I shot video of the train a second time as it entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road near the end of its run late-afternoon Monday, April 22, 2024. Later, the train enters Tazewell & Peoria Railroad territory at S. Darst Street to cross the river and deliver to that carrier's East Peoria Yard. BNSF 5355 and BNSF 9066 have a shorter-than-usual 20 cars.     David P. Jordan

I parked by W. Farmington Road late this afternoon, hoping Union Pacific's MCLPE would show up. When I arrived, the position light signals displayed yellow. I could stay a little while, so I did. Eventually, I heard a distant horn. The UP signal was still yellow, so I figured it was an eastbound BNSF train, but because of the shadows, I decided to cross the road. Then, I noticed the UP signal had changed to red for a northbound. I heard a second horn blast, which was at Pottstown. Now I knew a Union Pacific southbound was approaching.... CAPTION: Union Pacific train MCLPE (Manifest, Clinton IA to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road near the end of its journey to Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, April 21, 2024. UP 8950 and UP 7099 have 38 cars.   David P. Jordan