Peoria Station

Today's Union Pacific MPECL appeared ready to depart when I drove by Adams Street Yard this afternoon around 1540 hours. But the train did not leave for probably 30 minutes. It was by W. Farmington Road at 1627 hours.    Although the train had but 20 cars, there was a decent variety of traffic (loads and empties) from the Keokuk Junction Railway, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway.        CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois. UP 6873 has 20 cars.   David P. Jordan

Monday afternoon and evening was busy. I saw five trains in as many hours, and four of them were movements on BNSF's Peoria Subdivision!   I'm not sure what is going on with BNSF's manifest trains M-GALPEI and M-PEIGAL. The schedule may be messed up at times due to crew availability. I don't know if the trains ran on July 22 or 25, but they did on July 27 and July 28, respectively. They did this the prior Saturday/Sunday, July 20/21, as well. M-GALPEI reportedly had 112 cars on Saturday. I've been told that M-PEIGAL ran on Sunday around midday, with an estimated 40 to 50 cars.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, July 29, 2024 on its final leg to East Peoria. BNSF 7834 and BNSF 1077 have 28 cars. CAPTION: A BNSF Railway unit coal train enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afte

I got the blues...all three of them!   The Iowa Interstate's SIPE arrived early Wednesday morning with HZRX 5003, an ex-Hudson Bay Railway SD50, for interchange to Norfolk Southern. It was parked on the Creve Coeur Team Track, and still there as of this evening.   After snapping a pics from the Wesley Road crossing, I crossed the river and heard the Keokuk Junction Railway local ask the St. Albans Dispatcher for permission to enter the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Iowa Junction for head room. When I arrived, they shoved a boxcar into Collier Yard and then proceeded eastward.    I didn't get much time at the downtown library, but did linger in the area long enough to capture the Keokuk Junction Railway local on its return leg to Mapleton.  The boxcar on the head end is unusual, but it is either a storage car or perhaps Amsted Rail/Griffin Wheel Div. in Keokuk is routing locomotive wheels to a non-UP destination.  CAPTION:   The Keokuk Junction Railway's Mapleton,

When I drove by Adams Street Yard after work Tuesday afternoon, I found it empty. Based on recent encounters, I quickly headed to W. Farmington Road where the northbound signal displayed green. So I hoped MPECL was hiding behind the thick woods around Peoria Junction.   Turns out, a train of Powerton coal empties rolled by shortly. I still hoped MPECL was waiting for that train's passage, so I lingered in the area for awhile. But not MPECL. At least I got something for my time and effort.  CAPTION: A northbound Union Pacific train of Powerton coal empties rolls by W. Farmington Road mid-afternoon Tuesday, July 23, 2024. UP 8424 and UP 8207 were on the point; UP 5479 is DPU. - David P. Jordan

I made a haul today.    I was planning on going to the Monticello Railway Museum's book, model and paper items sale early, but received word that Iowa Interstate train PESI had received a track warrant to head north from Peoria.    So I went after it.    I caught it just before Rome, where I parked and shot video of its passage.  CAPTION:   Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by Rome, Illinois late-morning Saturday, July 20, 2024. IAIS 518 and IAIS 151 have 76 cars.   I also knew that a Tazewell & Peoria RR crew was hauling the potash train Iowa Interstate potash train from Friday evening along the Kickapoo Main (Southern Division), which was in the opposite direction. Good thing for Rt. 6 and I-474, because I made it to Mendenhall Road, the TZPR potash train stopped short of the Union Pacific mainline connection waiting for passage of a Powerton-bound coal train.  CAPTION: A Union Pacific loaded, Powerton-bound coal train rolls by Me

Early this evening, I received a heads up that an Iowa Interstate potash train was making its way toward Peoria.  Naturally, I went after it.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL) rolls through Mossville, Illinois early evening Friday, July 19, 2024. IAIS 518 and IAIS 151 have 105 potash loads for Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad.   - David P. Jordan

I had my scanner set to the Union Pacific Peoria Sub channel when I left home, so when I heard radio chatter at exactly 1530 hours, I knew I was in business! But when I checked Adams Street Yard, the Low Line was already empty! When I turned around, I could see MPECL's tail end sitting on the Low Line, waiting for dispartcher's instructions to move north from Peoria Junction.    I drove past the old Molitor Junction area just south of Harmon Highway, I could see the approaching train, so I went to W. Farmington Road and waited. Sure enough, the train came by in just a few minutes.    Friday's train had a good mix of Illinois & Midland Railroad, Keokuk Junction Railway, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway traffic, including zinc oxide, wheels and alcohol loads.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departure from Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-

I had to wait about 40 minutes this afternoon for Union Pacific's MPECL to leave Adams Street Yard. I believe it was because a CPWNR (Coal Empties, Powerton IL to North Rochelle Mine WY) was moving ahead so MPECL had to wait.    Train was short, but had those nine zinc oxide loads I saw a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew pull from the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway's East Peoria Yard late-Saturday morning.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, July 16, 2024. UP 3086 and UP 7791 have 31 cars.     - David P. Jordan

I got a pleasant surprise this morning on my way to the downtown library. Train was strung out on the Peoria Sub short of E. Washington Street. The TZPR end cab unit on the point told me a TZPR crew was aboard. The two trailing units must be needed due to the train's size and/or are heading to the diesel shop for maintenance. Train includes nine zinc oxide loads, which TP&W has been interchanging to Union Pacific via TZPR at East Peoria rather than directly via Collier Yard at Bartonville. There are 27 cars of mixed traffic and 50 Incobrasa covered hoppers. CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew pulls a lengthy transfer home from the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway 's East Peoria Yard. TZPR 1351, TZPR 2133 and TPW 3443 have 77 cars (11 loads, 66 empties). David P. Jordan

Like many days, Union Pacific's MPECL on Friday contacted the dispatcher at 1530 hours for instructions. Train was by Pottstown at 1601. The rear 23 cars are dry sorbent empties from Illinois & Midland Railroad, which were delivered to Union Pacific via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at East Peoria. CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 at Peoria, Illinois shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, July 12, 2024. Later, it is shown on the double track at Pottstown. UP 7791 has 60 cars. - David P. Jordan

It has been nearly a decade since I've seen Amtrak detouring along BNSF's Chillicothe Subdivision east of Galesburg, and that was a planned shift to due a bridge replacement project on the Mendota Subdivision. So when I learned that Amtrak Nos. 4 and 6 would be combined at Galesburg and rerouted over the ex-Santa Fe this afternoon, I had to be trackside. Amtrak Nos. 3 and 5 are expected to run the usual route later today.  CAPTION: Due to a coal train derailment near Somonauk, Illinois, Amtrak No. 4, the Southwest Chief (Los Angeles CA to Chicago IL), and Amtrak No. 6, the California Zephyr (Emeryville CA to Chicago IL) were combined at Galesburg and detoured along the Chillicothe Subdivision at its namesake late-afternoon Wednesday, July 10, 2024. The ex-Santa Fe route was used by Amtrak's Southwest Chief regularly through July 1996. AMTK 147 and AMTK 199 led No. 4 while AMTK 72 and AMTK 29 were on No. 6, turned backwards when combined at the Amtrak depot in Galesburg.  

Both trains I saw this afternoon were brought up to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track from ADM in Decatur by Canadian National.  When I drove by Adams Street Yard this afternoon, MPECL was gone, but I figured it was sitting at Peoria Junction (shrouded by thick vegetation in summer), so I turned around and followed the tracks. I even heard some radio chatter as soon as I started driving Kickapoo Creek Road from Bartonville.  At the W. Farmington Road crossing, I was encouraged by the green signal indication for a northbound. After waiting on the east side of the tracks (the opposite as usual), the bells began dinging and the gates dropped. But it turned out to be BNSF's G-PEISMR, which had been holding the Peoria Sub mainline under the Adams Street Viaduct waiting for dispatcher instructions.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train G-PEISMR (Grain, Peoria IL to Summerfield TX) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday

I knew Iowa Interstate train SIPE departed Silvis late this morning, so I figured I could catch it after work.  Sure enough, I caught it in the San Koty area and shot video by the IIllinois Valley Yacht Club entrance road in Peoria Heights, a short distance from the North Limit Yard.  The crew only finished putting the train away at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard around 6:00pm, so I doubted this crew would have had time to flip back north with PESI.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by the Ivy Club entrance in Peoria Heights, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, July 8, 2024. IAIS 503 and IAIS 502 have 93 cars.   I happened to be on the Peoria side of the river, confirming that an empty coal train nearing S. Darst Street was a BNSF movement, when I heard a TP&W crew ask permission to deliver cars to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. I made it to my favorite spot near W. Washington Street just in tim

I don't sit trackside along BNSF Railway's Chillicothe Subdivision as much as I did when I lived 5-6 miles away, but managed to do so Sunday afternoon. I just missed Union Pacific's westbound Z-G4CI, but did see five eastbounds, the fourth of which was Z-CIG4.  By September, I'll likely make more trips to Princeville to check on boxcars at Seneca Foods Corp. Rebuilt track last year led to a surge in rail shipments, and the local that services them seems to appear in late-afternoon and early-evening.  CAPTION: Intermodal movements on BNSF Railway Chillicothe Sub action at N. Rice Road, a few miles east of Princeville, Illinois, early- to mid-afternoon Sunday, July 7, 2024. During this period, three BNSF eastbounds, Union Pacific's Z-CIG4 and another BNSF eastbound passed my location.   On my way home, I captured a Powerton-bound Union Pacifc coal train at Brauer Road at the top of Pioneer Hill.  CAPTION: A Powerton-bound coal train rolls by the old Pioneer Station

Late Saturday morning, I learned that an eastbound BNSF train of ADM covered hoppers was seen at Maquon.  I intended to go into Peoria anyway, so I followed BNSF's Peoria Sub along Rt. 8 and encountered the approaching train well before Edwards. I turned around and waited for it at W. Farmington Road.  Although the high, mid-day summer sun is kind of an annoyance, I think the video turned out pretty well.  Train is bound for Decatur, Illinois via Canadian National. The crew might have a loaded grain train to take west. A TP&W crew ran it through Washington a little after 1:00 Saturday afternoon.  CAPTION:   BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly before arriving Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, July 6, 2024. BNSF 7370 and BNSF 5877 are on the point of 100 gluten feed empties.   David P. Jordan

Just as I prefer, the train departed Adams Street Yard shortly after I drove by. It passed W. Farmington Road by 1604 hours.  I didn't notice any Keokuk Junction Railway interchange on Tuesday's MPECL or today's, so I'm unsure what is going on with that carrier's operations.  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 mid-afternoon Friday, July 5, 2024. UP 8013 and UP 7791 and 57 cars.   David P. Jordan

Today's MPECL appears to be the exact same consist LPD01 handled from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to Adams Street Yard around midday Monday, July 1, 2024. Earlier, the 01 job returned from Collier Yard engine lite, and apparently did not work the Keokuk Junction Railway and/or Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway interchanges there today.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, July 2, 2024. UP 8013 and UP 7791 have 39 cars.   David P. Jordan

Late-morning/early-afternoon Monday proved productive. I know that I missed a TP&W eastbound road freight (M-EPEF), but managed to capture Tazewell & Peoria RR, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern action. A westbound TP&W-UP grain train is making its way west from ADM Grain Co's Clymers, Indiana terminal as well, though I do not know how far it will get today.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 3" job rolls by Krause Ave./S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois late-morning Monday, July 1, 2024. TZPR 1352 has 30 cars for Kickapoo Yard, including 12 scrap metal loads, 16 coiled wire rod empties and two molten petroleum asphalt loads.   CAPTION:   Union Pacific train LPD01 (Peoria Wayfreight) is shown late-morning Monday, July 1, 2024  pulling a transfer out of Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois. It is shown returning a short time later. UP 7791 and UP 8013 have 31 cars for TZPR; UP 8013 and UP 7791 returned with 39 cars.   CAPTION: Nor