TZPR Locals, BNSF M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL, Iowa Interstate PESI 1-11-25

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 of film and then crossed the river to check on the local railscene. When I reached Wesley, I noticed a couple of vehicles parked next to IAIS 513. I headed down Wesley Road only to encounter a second Tazewell & Peoria Railroad from Pekin! I turned around and found that IAIS lashup blowing through the Wesley Road crossing, switching from one main to the other so it could head toward turn power and back into its train. 

 

The first TZPR local had at least one car that appeared to be IMRR traffic (coal empty), but also five pressuraide-type covered hoppers that could be dry sorbent empties from IMRR, and 15 corn empties from Alto Pekin. Yet the second one appeared to be all-IMRR traffic save for the last car, and alcohol load from one of the Alto plants. I would expect one of these trains to be a Powerton Turn returning home, but not sure which one. Interestingly, the Incobrasa Industries tank cars on the second one were loaded. Perhaps these are simply leased by Agridyne LLC/Timberlake Sales for liquid feed service rather than indicate purchase of soybean oil as a "Mix 30" ingredient? 

CAPTION: A second Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, enroute from Pekin to East Peoria, rolls by Wesley East early afternoon Saturday, January 11, 2025. TZPR 1352 has nine cars.

 

About the time I bagged the second TZPR local, I learned that BNSF's M-GALPEI was heading my way. I got some lunch and then drove to W. Farmington Road where a minute later, the gates went down and M-GALPEI rolled by. I caught it a second time at S. Darst Street, but not until Iowa Interstate PESI had crossed the river and negotiated the West Yard in Peoria.

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road as it nears Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, January 11, 2025. Later, it enters Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at S. Darst Street. BNSF 7232 and BNSF 6783 have 39 cars.

After getting the BNSF train at W. Farmington Road, I headed through town and then across the Cedar Street Bridge only to spot Iowa Interstate PESI coming around Bridge Junction. I turned around in East Peoria and shot it at Persimmon Street. After getting the BNSF train a second time, I headed north and caught PESI again at Mossville. 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) is first shown at Wesley, Illinois early-afternoon Saturday, January 11, 2025 after its two units and NS GP38-2 came engine lite off the Creve Coeur Team Track, crossed over from one main to the other, and ran toward the bridge to wye IAIS 513, IAIS 153 and NS 5281. Later, the 20-car train is shown on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria and then in home territory at Mossville.

Heading home from the downtown library after dark, I checked East Peoria for signs tht BNSF M-GALPEI was still in town. The flashing EOT indicated an immenent departure, so I waited. Sure enough, the crew asked for permission to depart and I shot video with my phone at the Sanger Street crossing, on account of a bright street lamp. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls across Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois shortly after coming across the Illinois River early evening Saturday, January 11, 2025. BNSF 7232 and BNSF 6783 have 32 cars.

 

- David P. Jordan