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Iowa Interstate ZENOE/PESI, BNSF M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL 5-2-26

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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...
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Tazewell & Peoria RR Industry 4 5-1-26

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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
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Canadian National L557, Tazewell & Peoria RR Industry 4 (4-28-26)

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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...
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Tazewell & Peoria RR Local (Lead 2?) 4-27-26

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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
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Keokuk Junction Rwy. East Peoria Turn 4-24-26

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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...
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Canadian National Spray Train 4-23-26

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Canadian National's Peoria Sub was busy today. An empty grain train was delivered to Iowa Interstate, local L557 worked south as usual on Thursday, and a weed sprayer train ran north, entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at IC Junction in Pekin, turned at Wesley and headed back south to home rails this afternoon.  CAPTION: A Canadian National weed spray train is shown mid- to late-afternoon Thursday, April 23, 2026 rolling along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois. Later, it is shown on home rails at IC Junction in downtown Pekin, at 5th Street near South Pekin, and again at the intersection with Main Street in South Pekin. CN 5289, an SD40-2W, has six cars.   - David P. Jordan
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Norfolk Southern D49 4-22-96

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After work, I learned that Norfolk Southern's D49 local had already left East Peoria. I decided to go after it, catching just before Carlock. I knew I could not set up in time there, but exited I-74 (due to construction) onto US 150 (waiting on the train in town) and just barely beating it to Yuton, where it had slowed before pausing for the conductor to line the switch into the "make up" track and into Good Yard's Track 5.    This was a good one. Three Caterpillar tractor loads (one D10 and two D11s), four coiled wire rod loads, a plastic load (from IMRR), an alcohol load and the usual ADM traffic from the Iowa Interstate. Two empty coil steel cars from IAIS, and a scrap metal empty. Two probable steel billet empties (also from IAIS), brought up the rear. CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown slowing at Yuton, Illinois as it approaches its home terminal, Good Yard, in Normal late-afternoon Wednesday, April 22, 2026...
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