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TZPR Local, BNSF X-SMRPEI 3-8-26

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I learned that an empty BNSF feed pellet train had left Galesburg for Peoria in mid-afternoon so I left earlier than usual on Sunday evening.   Driving I-474 westbound just after crossing the river, I heard some radio chatter on the TZPR road frequency. I did not make out what was being said, but a quickly glance at a TZPR train ready to depart Kickapoo Yard prompted me to turn around and grab video. I was able to get it at Darst Street. Nothing groundbreaking behind the SW-1500 but the three loaded covered hoppers on the rear are likely dry fertilizer loads from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC in the Pekin Bottoms.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, is shown late-afternoon Sunday, March 8, 2026. IMRR 43 has nine cars.   After the TZPR local went by, I resumed my plan to intercept the empty BNSF feed train, but just missed it at W. Farmington Road and could not turn around in sufficient time to bag it before the bl...
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TP&W M-EPEF 3-7-26

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A number of TP&W manifests of late have had short consists when departing East Peoria. Days of operations still seem to vary, but short consists either mean more frequent runs or a lull in business. That lull, if a factor, is probably seasonal.    I learned of the train's departure from East Peoria around midday Saturday. It was a short consist, and eleven of the cars and one locomotive (IORY 3492) were on that transfer I caught Friday afternoon. But I decided to chase starting at Washington. After that, I cured an empty stomach and caught up to the train again at Secor. I usually bid adieu at El Paso, but knew pickups were planned at both Gridley and Meadows. These may be the first times I've seen TP&W pickup eastbound soybean loads at these local elevators that are consigned to Incobrasa Industries in Gilman.    I included video of the Gridley pickup. I stayed at Chenoa to watch a southbound Union Pacific intermodal train and Amtrak's San Antonio-bound ...
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BNSF M-GALPEI, TP&W Transfer 3-6-26

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By the time I left work on this stormy Friday afternoon, I knew that Union Pacific's MPECL had already left and that Norfolk Southern local D49 had come and gone. So I went into Peoria thinking BNSF's M-GALPEI or M-PEIGAL could be here.    Sure enough, M-GALPEI was actually blocking Sanger Street, waiting for permission to cross the river. So I shot video of the train at Bridge Junction from my car as a heavy thunderstorm approached. My wait was brief. I left for the downtown library, checked for M-PEIGAL and found it still in East Peoria. Darkness fell and left as I had other plans.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls enters Bridge Junction on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad mid-afternoon Friday, March 6, 2026. BNSF 4233 and BNSF 8156 have 35 cars.   After bagging the inbound BNSF "local," I heard the TZPR Jacksonville dispatcher give a TP&W train permission to leave the north end of the East Peoria Yard fo...
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Tazewell & Peoria RR "Kickapoo Job" 3-2-26

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Finally, I caught one of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's old "Kickapoo Job" locals (possibly "Industry 2") this afternoon with loaded OZIX twin-bay covered hoppers! I have yet to confirm which railroads hauls these out of the city, though BNSF is possible.    CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, rolls by Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois as it enters Bridge Junction before crossing the river mid-afternoon Monday, March 2, 2026. TPW 2056 has eleven cars, including seven loads from Ozinga Cement Co's new facility on BioUrja Renewable LLC's Belt Line.   - David P. Jordan
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Union Pacific CDEBM 3-1-26

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The crew was aboard this train, parked on the double track at Grove, from at least 1530 this afternoon. Radio chatter indicated the crew needed to grab a unit sitting on TZPR's Creve Coeur Team Track. That and river traffic delayed the train from crossing the river until about 1730 hours. It was clear on UP property by 1745.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train CDEBM (Coal Empties, Decatur/Peoria IL to Belle Ayr Mine WY) is shown crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge into Peoria, Illinois and then stopping briefly to enter home rails at Darst Street. UP 7519, UP 6658 and UP 7665 have 128 cars.   - David P. Jordan
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Norfolk Southern D49 2-23-26

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It has been awhile since Norfolk Southern's D49 has made an East Peoria turn late enough for me to see the return leg after work. When I got to East Peoria, and heard the dispatcher give it permission from P&PU Junction to Farmdale, I realized that I forgot my camera, so the phone camera had to do. I believe the train had 15 loads and 17 empties.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria turn) is shown departing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at P&PU Junction in East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, February 23, 2026. Later, the train is shown on home rails at Farmdale and again at Deer Creek. NS 6923 and NS 6972 have 32 cars.   - David P. Jordan
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Norfolk Southern D49, Union Pacific MPECL 2-20-26

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For the third Friday in a row, I took a half day off work, hoping those Caterpillar tractor loads would be on Union Pacific's MPECL. They were on it until they were not, unfortunately, but while waiting for MPECL's departure, Norfolk Southern's D49 snuck out of town with a short train. I heard radio chatter about it leaving, went back across the river and found it already clear of P&PU Junction. I found a spot and waited. It was my first encounter with this train in 2026! CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown on the return leg shortly after entering home rails at East Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, February 20, 2026. NS 7034, NS 6923 and NS 6963 (GoRail) have nine cars for Good Yard.   Several Caterpillar tractor loads, a rarity on the Union Pacific, were switched out by MPECL's crew just minutes before departure. Although disappointed, the train had nine of those "Omaha Track" gondolas used by...
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