Peoria Station

I saw BNSF's M-GALPEI in the East Peoria Yard mid-afternoon Wednesday, so cold weather earlier this week seems to have taken operations off-schedule. I received a heads up that BNSF Railway's M-GALPEI may have departed Galesburg sometime Saturday night. I was expecting a possible M-PEIGAL this morning, but when I drove by the south side, it was M-GALPEI entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street.  CAPTION: BNSF train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria, Illinois late-morning Sunday, January 26, 2025 as it curves toward the Illinois River and East Peoria. BNSF 4351 and BNSF 3837 have 17 cars. After the BNSF train crossed the river, I did as well and found a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad yard job pulling 21 mash (or gluten feed) loads down the Pekin double track toward ADM Grain Co. at Hilliards. It is that time of year when they do this up to twice a day as the upper Mississippi River i...

I was in Peoria already so I came across this train as it was heading for the Illinois River.    After entering home rails, I had to wait awhile for further movement, but picked the final spot because a crew change was to take place just before W. Farmington Road. I did not want to wait any longer.  Gluten feed pellets were loaded by ADM in Decatur and routed CN-Peoria-BNSF to Summerfield, Texas.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train G-PEISMR (Grain, Peoria IL to Summerfield TX) crosses the Illinois River and then nears the connection to home rails at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois. Later, the whole train is shown after leaving town. BNSF 4005, BNSF 6391, and BNSF 5280 were on the point.   - David P. Jordan

When I drove the Cedar Street Extension in East Peoria, I saw the unmistakable KJRY power coupled to an outbound train. I also noticed the Iowa Interstate's PESI waiting for departure. The KJRY train was quickly given permission to depart for Iowa Junction. The Iowa Interstate train was given permission to depart when the KJRY passed.    I was hoping to catch the Iowa Interstate train, but as it turned out, a TZPR local with IORY 5013 had Komatsu high wide load(s) and the PESI could not pass it. I found this train switching PMP Fermentation Products, but darkness fell, and temperatures dropped. I decided to leave. At least I got the KJRY train.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn is shown crossing the Illinois River after departing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard mid-afternoon Friday, January 24, 2025. Moments later, the whole train is shown at Sanger Street. LTEX 3010, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3836 have 41 cars, all empties. -...

I thought to look at Central Illinois Regional Airport's statistics page just now, and found 2023 figures.  The facility serving Bloomington-Normal handled 167,597 enplanements and 167,291 deplanements for a total of 334,888 passengers. Air cargo volume was 11.6 million pounds.  Given the limit number of frequencies to Atlanta (Delta Connection), Chicago-O'Hare (American Eagle), Dallas/Ft. Worth (American Eagle) and seasonal Allegiant Air (Orlando-Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater) and Frontier Airlines (Denver) services, I would guess load factors were pretty good.  CIRA may be ripe for expanded frequencies or new service.  - David P. Jordan

I was wrong, but not by much. The Peoria Journal Star posted an article this afternoon revealing not only a record passenger tally for December 2024, but a near record for the entire year! I probably made fun of them sufficiently that they finally realized Peoria has an airport with scheduled commercial airline service, and that it is vital a local newspaper of record needs to report happenings on a consistent basis if it wants to be credible.  Last year, Peoria International Airport nearly broke its all-time passenger record. In 2019, it handled 689,416 passengers. In 2024, it handled 687,601, a difference of just 0.23 percent.  One record did fall. In December, PIA handled 66,150 passengers, more than any previous total for that month. In fact, this is nearly 10,000 more than the previous December record, which was in 2019.  United Express' new daily Denver nonstops begin March 30, 2025. Barring unforeseen calamity, this new service should help PIA break its 2019 reco...

I learned in early afternoon that Iowa Interstate's PESI had its crew called for 1100 hours. Despite the cold, I decided to check the East Peoria Yard for signs of imminent departure.  When I arrived, IAIS 152 was missing from the Creve Coeur Team Track (NS 5823 is still there...perhaps D49 will hauling it out of town Monday or Tuesday?), so either the train departed or it was on the train in the yard readying for departure.  The latter soon revealed itself as the correct answer. I lingered in the area and managed to snap a few pics of it at Leland Street after coming across the river and then shot video at three locations.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate PESI departed the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard mid-afternoon Sunday, January 19, 2025. Locations are Ft. of Main Street downtown and Fairholm Ave. in Peoria, Illinois, and at San Koty on home rails. IAIS 152 has 41 cars. - David P. Jordan

Iowa Interstate ran its SIPE during daylight Saturday afternoon with a surprise - NS 5823 was leading! Normally, these units are revenue freight, handled for Norfolk Southern from Des Moines to Peoria (and vice-versa) for 92-day inspections at Decatur.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls by several locations mid-afternoon Saturday, January 18, 2025. Locations are Chillicothe, Rome, Mossville and San Koty. NS 5823 and IAIS 152 have just 16 cars. I can recall only one other time that an NS geep was leading. It was NS 5177 on SIPE the afternoon of October 4, 2020. David P. Jordan

This afternoon proved to be busy.    When I reached East Peoria, I heard the TZPR 1521 ask permission to leave the diesel shop for the yard as Industry 4. Within minutes, TZPR 1351 received permission from Iowa Junction to the East Peoria Yard. This train, probably Industry 2, left Kickapoo Yard with three scrap metal loads. Only minutes after that, IMRR 43 left the West Yard for East Peoria with a dozen cars (five alcohol loads, the rest corn syrup empties and buffer cars). CAPTION: Two Tazewell & Peoria Railroad locals are shown approaching Bridge Junction in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, January 17, 2025. TZPR 1351 came first at Sanger Street, and was enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria with three scrap metal loads. Within minutes, IMRR 43 crossed Leland Street enroute from the West Yard to East Peoria with 12 cars. I heard TZPR 1521 (Industry 4) get permission to leave with 21 loads for ADM Grain Co's Wesley Road dock (still called "CID") bu...

A methanol plant may be coming to the area.  The local press is reporting that New York-based Ambient Fuels is looking to build a $550 million methanol manufacturing plant at Pekin's Riverway Business Park. This WCBU article provides good details.  The plant will use materials such as ethanol and carbon dioxide gas (likely supplied from nearby Alto Pekin/Alto ICP facilities) to manufacture methanol.  Given the size of the project (25 jobs, 47 acres), it seems that this plant will likely be a rail-served facility, shipping tank cars of methanol on a regular basis.  Canadian National Railway serves Amerhart and Hanna Steel at this park.  - David P. Jordan

I left work for the downtown library as usual this afternoon, but knew to check on the Iowa Interstate's PESI. The carrier brought SIPE into town late Sunday evening on SD38-2s 150 and 151 so I figured PESI would leave this afternoon.  I was correct. But minutes after the Iowa Interstate crew received permission to depart the West Lead for the North Limit Yard, the Keokuk Junction Railway's local (unofficially the "East Peoria Turn") asked for permission to run from Iowa Junction to East Peoria. I knew I should get the KJRY first.  Looks like most of the train was loaded with corn from Sciota. The two ALAB covered hoppers might contain corn germ for Norfolk Southern or corn screenings for Alto ICP at Pekin.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn is shown in Peoria, Illinois rolling along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad toward the Illinois River Bridge and East Peoria mid-afternoon Monday, January 13, 2025. LTEX 3836, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3010...

When I head to the downtown library on Saturday morning, I usually check East Peoria for possible rail movements. This morning, I knew that Iowa Interstate power (513 and 153) would take NS 5281 on PESI later in the day, and decided to check its status. I existed I-474 at Creve Coeur and drove Wesley Road, noticing the yellow signal indication at Wesley East and also toward the Illinois River Bridge. I figured an empty BNSF coal train or loaded BNSF gluten feed train might be lined up. Turns out, it a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local from Pekin.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, enroute from Pekin to East Peoria, Illinois, rolls along the double track at Hilliards and later at Wesley late-morning Saturday, January 11, 2025. TZPR 1521 and 21 cars pulled toward the bridge so it could back into the East Peoria Yard's south end. The Iowa Interstate units were still resting on the Creve Coeur Team Track, so I headed for the downtown library. I finished up a roll...

I left work early for an appointment but had an hour to kill. Amazingly, this train was already approaching W. Farmington Road when I found it, and barely had time to set up at Pottstown...   Since this train has an earlier call time (probably noon) the past two months, I won't be seeing it much. I expect to have a few chances by spring and into the summer on MCLPE if it runs early on some Wednesdays and Sundays.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL rolls by Pottstown, Illinois early-afternoon Tuesday, January 7, 2025. UP 7226 has 49 cars. After the appointment was taken care of, I went into East Peoria and found Norfolk Southern local D49 leaving the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. The first sixteen cars are for sure from the Keokuk Junction Railway, which ran a East Peoria turn Monday afternoon.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 rolls under the TP&W's Farmdale Trestle on the outskirts of East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesda...

After work, enroute to the downtown library, I stopped in East Peoria for gas and then drove by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to check if Norfolk Southern D49 was still in town. I saw nothing of it, though I spotted KJRY power preparing to couple onto an outbound train.   So I crossed the river on the Cedar Street Bridge, glanced toward my left and noticed a headlight which I quickly concluded was a BNSF train awaiting dispatcher's instructions. Sure enough, I heard the TZPR dispatcher giving M-GALPEI permission from Darst Street to "the hump." They were to drop the train on A-39 and pickup the outbound (M-PEIGAL) on A-22.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has just entered Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, January 6, 2025. BNSF 5809 and BNSF 5016 have 26 cars. - David P. Jordan

I missed M-GALPEI's arrival this morning before 10:00, but it appears to have been made up of 27 tank cars, possibly all TP&W-bound nitrogen fertilizer solution loads from Koch Nitrogen (OCI Iowa Fertilizer Co.) at Wever, Iowa. I did stick around to see M-PEIGAL though.    I don't know if this was a third cycle for the week, or if it was operated late due to New Year's Eve/New Year's Day. Normally, M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL cycle on Mondays and Thursdays with a third cycle as needed on Saturday (usually) or Sunday.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) crosses the Illinois River mid-afternoon Saturday, January 4, 2025. Later, the whole train is shown crossing Sanger Street a short distance away. BNSF 3973 and BNSF 4085 have 25 cars. - David P. Jordan

After a wild goose chase thinking a late-MPECL might be climbing through Pottstown toward Pioneer on the double track, I learned that Iowa Interstate PESI had permission to depart East Peoria.    Typical of recent PESIs, seven scrap metal loads bring up the rear. There were also two industrial alcohol (UN 1170) loads, probably two gluten feed or meal loads, and an empty tank car with ADM markings. The rest were likely mash empties, though the Mississippi River is on its seasonal shut down (probably from Keokuk north) so gluten feed empties are possible as well.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by Morton Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, January 3, 2025. Running on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division, IAIS 707 and IAIS 153 have 68 cars.   - David P. Jordan