Peoria Station

When I first drove by the crew was just boarding Union Pacific's MPECL, so I knew I wouldn't have to wait long. Typical traffic and short, but lighting was good Friday afternoon. Train was by W. Farmington Road at 4:19pm.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, May 31, 2024. UP 8950 and UP 6308 have 29 cars.   David P. Jordan

When I drove by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard late this afternoon, I noticed a yard job assembling what looked like BNSF Railway's M-PEIGAL onto the East Lead. So I figured M-GALPEI was due soon.  I spent a little time at the downtown library, but decided to leave early and check on M-GALPEI. It crossed W. Farmington Road at 1753, but I arrived too late to shoot video there. With long afternoon shadows, I had to wait for the train to enter the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street for decent lighting (and even then, it was slightly backlit).  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois for the final leg of its journey to East Peoria early evening Thursday, May 30, 2024. BNSF 3268 and BNSF 5147 have 55 cars.  David P. Jordan

Peoria International Airport continues to grow! Thanks to an anonymous commenter, I've learned that American Eagle is adding a third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Charlotte, North Carolina on November 5. The new roundtrip will be in late-morning and will use 76-seat Canadair CRJ900 twinjets.  The expanded schedule will look like the following: Arrivals 10:17am 3:41pm 9:20pm Departures 7:20am 10:57pm 4:40pm I checked schedules into July and it appears the third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare is continuing for the time being.  Perhaps Delta Airlines will take notice, realize the Peoria market is ripe for competition and have Delta Connection resume Peoria-Atlanta nonstops?  UPDATE: Effective September 5, Envoy Airlines dba American Eagle is replacing one 50-seat Air Wisconsin CRJ200 early evening turnaround with an Embraer 170. The upgrade adds two-class service and about 15 seats.  - David P. Jordan

I didn't have to wait but a few minutes for Union Pacific's MPECL this afternoon. Short train, but a decent variety in its consist.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, May 28, 2024. UP 8950 and UP 8308 have 25 cars.   David P. Jordan

I hadn't planned on going anywhere today, but received a heads up that Union Pacific was running an empty ballast train southbound on the Peoria Sub. While I intended to shoot it at W. Farmington Road, the train was making time faster than I expected. No sooner did I pulled onto Kickapoo Creek Road and ducked under the UP High Line in Bartonville, it glanced through the trees to see familiar ballast hoppers. I quickly turned around and just beat it to Cilco Lane. CAPTION: A southbound Union Pacific train of ballast empties rolls by Cilco Lane at Sommer, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, May 27, 2024. UP 8631, UP 7030, UP 8635 and UP 8930 have 41 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I assume they're running a day early due to the holiday. Which means it might turn back as M-PEIGAL tonight, and run as far west as possible.  The NS leader was interesting, but I suppose it was a unit on hand at the Galesburg terminal.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly before arriving Peoria, Illinois early evening Sunday, May 26, 2024. NS 4321 and BNSF 7306 have 64 cars for delivery to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at East Peoria.   - David P. Jordan

While coming home after bagging three NS manifests and a westbound Roadrailer east of Decatur, I was able to chase Canadian National's L556 local to Mount Pulaski. I figure this train will tie up there tonight and through Memorial Day.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L556 (Local, Decatur IL to E. Peoria IL) is shown at Decatur, Bearsdale, Warrensburg, Latham and near Mount Pulaski on the Peoria Subdivision late-afternoon and early-evening Saturday, May 25, 2024. CN 8963 and CN 8862 have 24 cars. The first eight are for Gilman Sub customers, and will be set out at Mount Pulaski. The other 16 are for the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad. But CN doesn't interchange with that carrier Friday through the weekend, so the rest of the train may also tie up there until after the holiday.   - David P. Jordan