Peoria Station

As expected, the Federal Aviation Administration's cap on flights at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, effective from May 17 until October 24, will delay introduction of United Express service to both Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.  Both Central Illinois cities were to receive service by the airline - four roundtrips daily - starting May 7 and April 30, respectively. Champaign-Urbana's flights were already delayed to June 1. Now, both routes will begin on October 24, the day flight caps end.  Confirmation of the delay for United Express service out of Champaign-Urbana's Willard Airport can be found here.  for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport, see here .  - David P Jordan

I caught Iowa Interstate's ZENOE about midday today. The crew stopped at the North Limit Yard to drop 22 manifest on the head end, so I left.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate train ZENOE (Grain Loads, [Varies] to Peoria IL) rolls through Mossville, Illinois midday Saturday, May 2, 2026. IAIS 701, IAIS 152 and IAIS 519 have 130 cars (22 manifest, 108 grain loads). The manifest cars were set out at the North Limit Yard and the grain train was delivered to Canadian National on TZPR's Pekin mainline.   I was on the east side of the river when I heard BNSF's M-GALPEI get permission from Darst Street to East Peoria. Friday's train was a day late. This one was made up mostly of loads, including ten-car and eight-car blocks of ADM grain product traffic (perhaps BNSF has the Clinton, Iowa to TZPR business now??? If not, Marshall, Minn. and Columbus, Neb. plants might send corn germ to Decatur), three plastic loads and some nitrogen tank cars. There were eight OZIX (Ozinga) 2-bay co...

I learned that two end cab switchers were on an East Peoria-Powerton turn, and knew I needed to capture it somewhere. I was coming from the downtown Peoria library so I barely got to my spot in time. We see the usual dry sorbent loads for NRG Energy at Powerton and zinc oxide loads for CPKC at Springfield mixed with a few liquid feed, plastic and slag empties. CAPTION: Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 4" job rolls across N. 2nd Street in Pekin, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, May 1, 2026 with transfer business for the Illinois & Midland Railroad at Powerton. TZPR 1352 and TZPR 1351 have 27 cars.   - David P. Jordan

List, I stumbled on something interesting this afternoon. I heard chatter about the CN local coming into the TZPR's East Peoria Yard (which I assumed to be power coming off the Team Track), and also IMRR 43 on Main 2 at Wesley. Turns out, Canadian National's local, L557, soon departed on Main 1 (as usual), passing IMRR 43, which was on the point of L556 from last night. I don't know if CN left the train on Main 2 because weather-related delays meant they had no time to yard the train, or the yard lacked room.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls out of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard late-afternoon Tuesday, April 28, 2026. CN 3192 has 47 cars. The lumber load up front was probably "turned" in the yard and is for Amerhart at Pekin.   Normally, L556 arrives East Peoria in darkness, so it was nice to catch the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 4" pull the consist through...

I saw this one working BioUrja Renewables LLC's Alcohol Tracks in mid-afternoon, and hung around the area waiting for it to head across the river. I did not wait long, but the paused at South Street and then again at Leland. The bridge was up again and the crew simply moved a short distance, clearing Leland. I went to the other side and waited. River traffic cleared and the train crossed the river.    All eleven cars were empty, which is unusual. Usually, most tank cars on the return run from the West Yard to East Peoria are loads. I believe they spotted a few empties at BioUrja, however.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, probably "Lead 2," approaches Bridge Junction at Peoria, Illinois then pauses for a brief delay due to boat traffic. Shortly, it crosses the river. After switching BioUrja Renewables LLC's Alcohol Tracks, IMRR 43 had eleven empties for East Peoria.   - David P. Jordan

Like earlier this year (February 8-9), six TZPR gondolas up front on this afternoon's KJRY local returning to Mapleton from East Peoria likely contain scrap railroad wheels for Amsted Rail's Griffin Wheel Div. at Keokuk, Iowa.    I have not been able to confirm the origin of these scrap wheel loads, but TZPR-marked gondolas confirm thart they were loaded locally, probably at Alter Metal Recycling's W. Clarke Street processing facility or Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. The TZPR's RIP facility there and two local firms which refurbish, assembly and supply railcar wheels - Alliance Wheel Services at Washington and Wheelworx North LLC at Pekin - seem likely sources for these wheels.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's "East Peoria turn" is shown on its westbound (return) leg at Cilco Lane south of Bartonville and at Mapleton early-evening Friday, April 24, 2026. LTEX 3836-3010-3837-6437 have 20 cars. Train reportedly had 12 car...