Peoria Station

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad's last day as a common carrier. How appropriate to capture an Iowa Interstate train running on former Rock Island track! CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. train PEDAV (Peoria IL to Davenport IA) is shown on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad passing the new (1967) Rock Island depot at Morton Street in Peoria, Illinois and then Fairholm Avenue as it enters the North Limit Yard late-afternoon Monday, March 31, 2025. Later, the train is shown at Peoria Heights on home rails. Further up the Peoria Sub, the whole train is shown twice - at San Koty and then at Mossville. All scenes are on the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, which made its final runs as a common carrier 45 years ago today! IAIS 153 has 105 potash empties for Canadian Pacific Kansas City. - David P. Jordan

I checked United Airlines website this evening and noticed United Express (SkyWest Airlines) has increased service between Peoria and Chicago-O'Hare from three to four daily roundtrips. I assume this expansion was recent, perhaps this weekend.  I had feared the Denver service would mean reduction in Chicago-O'Hare service, but it seems the carrier has significantly increased capacity here.  Effective by Friday, American Eagle will be offering two daily roundtrips to Charlotte, three each to Chicago-O'Hare and Dallas/Ft. Worth, for a total of eight. United Express offers four daily roundtrips to Chicago-O'Hare and one to Denver, for a total of five. So the two regionals affiliated with "legacy" carriers now offer 13 daily roundtrips to four major hubs.  Allegiant Air offers anywhere from two to five turnarounds depending on the day of the week, linking Peoria with Las Vegas, Orlando-Sanford, Phoenix-Mesa, St. Petersburg/Clearwater and Punta Gorda year-round, De...

This is a typical occurence on Sundays. I neither get it every Sunday nor do I get a heads up every Sunday either, so I can't be sure it happens every Sunday, but it seems to do so.    The short consist is odd, but the nitrogen fertilizer solution shipping season must be slacking off, and interchange with CSX must have light, save for the usual Incobrasa traffic (which would not go west of Gilman). The 13 Incobrasa empties on today's train might be for the KJRY. Four nitrogen empties and one empty salt boxcar are for BNSF at Peoria.  CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) is shown Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2025. Locations are El Paso, just west of Secor (and again alongside US 24), Eureka, Cruger, Washington (and again at Ernest Street) and East Peoria. CFE 3316 and MQT 3407 have a short 18 cars (all empties). - David P. Jordan

Daily, nonstop service between Peoria and Denver has returned! At 0918 hours, SkyWest Airlines dba United Express Flight No. 5430 departed for the Rocky Mountain metropolis on Runway 22.  In September 2023, Peoria International Airport was awarded Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) funds to entice an airline to link that facility with a western hub. Denver (United), Houston (United), Phoenix (American) and Salt Lake City (Delta) were among considerations, but Denver always stood out as the most likely suitor, given Peoria's historical air service links to that city. HISTORY Ozark Air Lines obtained Peoria-Denver route authority in 1966. A stop at Sioux City, Iowa was required in each direction. Although the airline added Sioux City-Denver later that year, Peoria service would wait nearly a decade. Ozark even asked for nonstop route authority in 1971. Finally, on April 1, 1975 a single-daily roundtrip between Peoria, Sioux City and Denver began. On Seprember 1 of that y...

The local media and airport authority are touting the inaugural departure of United Express' service to Denver tomorrow morning, Sunday, March 30, 2025. But the inaugural arrival was this evening. SkyWest Airlines dba United Express Flight 4755 touched down on Runway 13 at 2032 hours.   Too dark for video or pics, but I did record a couple of highlights at and near the airport. - David

A few minutes after I first noticed the Iowa Interstate's PESI sitting on the West Lead at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, the crew received instructions for departure. The afternoon lighting influenced my choice of Persimmon Street as a video location. An incident involving a woman walking in the right-of-way near the old (1900) Rock Island depot at Liberty and Water streets forced the crew to sit for a short while.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division at Persimmon Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, March 28, 2025. The train stopped downtown due to a woman walking on the right-of-way. When police dealt with the situation, the train resumed its run. IAIS 150 and IAIS 702 have 60 cars (14 loads/46 empties). - David P. Jordan

Canadian National Railway brought this from Decatur up to TZPR's double track at Grove at midday, and I happened to see it crossing the river around 4:00pm. But I missed a departing Keokuk Junction Railway local but I saw that last Friday anyway. CAPTION: A northbound Union Pacific train of coal empties rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving the Low Line at Peoria Junction late-afternoon Wednesday, March 26, 2025. UP 5889 and UP 6325 have 144 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I happened to be approaching the SW Washington Street intersection coming off the Cedar Street Bridge when I caught a glimpse of a train to the southwest. No headlight, so it appeared to be a train having just crossed the river (like me!). I headed down SW Washington and as I crossed the SW Adams Street viaduct, caught a glimpse of a short BNSF manifest. I waited at W. Farmington Road and caught this racing by me. I decided to get it one more time, at Kramm Road a few miles west of Edwards.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, March 24, 2025. It is shown again at Kramm Road, a few miles west of Edwards. BNSF 4075 and BNSF 6052 have 15 cars. Note two Komatsu truck chassis loads on the head end.   A did go to the downtown library for a little bit, but left early on account of Iowa Interstate PESI's impending departure. When I returned to the south side, I caught a short TP&W local, likely returning...

I had just pulled into the downtown library parking lot when I heard the TZPR dispatcher give M-GALPEI instructions into the East Peoria Yard. So I decided to check out the action. When I arrived Sanger Street, I saw a Union Pacific Decatur-bound (via CN) coal train pulling off the Low Line in the distance at Darst Street. Lighting was better across the river so I contemplated shooting video at Hilliards until I noticed BNSF's M-GALPEI waiting at Darst Street for the UP train to clear.    I will take a manifest over a unit train any day. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, March 21, 2025. BNSF 7441 and BNSF 4111 have 52 cars.   After the BNSF train cleared, I knew a Keokuk Junction Railway local would cross the river and head back to Mapleton. But I wanted to continue my research and returned to the downtown library. I left early, and caug...

I caught a glimpse of it on Tuesday, but could not turn around and get video, so I checked on Canadian National's L557 this afternoon, and found it at Hilliards. Had I decided to make a right on Rt. 29 instead of a left, and then Wesley Road, I would have missed it!    Some notes:   - The loaded ADM covered hopper is serving as a buffer for the empty sodium hydroxide solution tank car, which came from PMP Fermentation Products.   - The two pressure-differential covered hoppers are interesting, as I've seen similar cars on BNSF, which I believe contain urea loaded at Dakota Gasification Company's Beulah, North Dakota production facility. Those are routed to TP&W for a consignee in Indiana. Not sure why these cars were on today's L557 though, unless a local processor (Alto?) is using them.   - The fifth car is the tank car (UTLX 671525) pulled by TP&W at Fort Transfer in Morton on Tuesday. This one should be a herbicide empty returning to Syngenta ...

American Eagle is adding a third daily roundtrip between Peoria and Dallas/Ft. Worth. When I checked chnges on Charlotte and Chicago-O'Hare frequency and equipment early next month, I had not gotten far enough up the calendar to noticed that Envoy Airlines dba American Eagle is adding a late-morning turnaround to its schedule between Peoria and Dallas/Ft. Worth on Friday, April 4. Like the mid-afternoon turnaround and the Remain-Overnight (RON) flight, the new one will use 76-seat Embraer 175 equipment.  Although Charlotte service is cut from three to two roundtrips, Chicago-O'Hare gets three roundtrips, and now for the first time since larger, two-class equipment (initially Canadair CRJ900s) was introduced in February 2017, Dallas/Ft. Worth gets three roundtrips!  - David P. Jordan

Like usual, I went to Peoria after work. Enroute to the downtown library, I hoped to see the Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria turn. With no sign of it, I crossed the river and found CN 2541 and CN 8892 on the Creve Coeur Team Track. A couple of vehicles parked nearby indicated the L557 crew had arrived.   About that time, I learned the Norfolk Southern local D49 had already been cleared to depart the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, and that the TP&W would follow with a lite engine move to Crandall and then Morton to fetch the tank car spotted at Fort Transfer on March 8.    I knew I was too late to see the NS, but I never miss a chance to catch a train where I live!   Intrerestingly, as I waited along the NS at N. Main Street, just outside of Morton, for the TP&W train heading back to East Peoria, I learned that the KJRY local had been cleared to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at Iowa Junction...   ...and as I drove I-474, I c...

Back in late-May I noticed online schedules showed PSA Airlines dba American Eagle adding a third roundtrip (late-morning turnararound) between Peoria and Charlotte on November 5.  I assumed the additional flight was added on that date but when I checked schedules sometime later, only two roundtrips were shown. I wondered if the expanded frequency even happened.  Apparently, it did, or had its start delayed.  Presently, the airline offers three daily roundtrips. A CRJ900 handles the late-morning turnaround and Remain-Overnight (RON) flights and a CRJ700 handles a late-afternoon turnaround. Unfortunately, on April 1, after its early-morning departure, the RON is discontinued, leaving one late-morning turnaround on CRJ900 and a late-afternoon turnaround on a CRJ700.  Peoria-Dallas/Fort Worth service remains unchanged with two daily roundtrips on Envoy Airlines Embraer 175 equipment.  - David P. Jordan

Air Wisconsin's recent decision to leave the American Eagle network will mean changes at both Peoria and Bloomington/Normal airports early next month. Presently, Air Wisconsin offers a Remain-Overnight (RON) service, arriving in the evening from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, with a return departure the next morning. A 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 is being used. Envoy Airlines provides a late-afternoon turnaround from Chicago-O'Hare on 65-seat Embraer 170 equipment.  Air Wisconsin operates its final departure the morning of April 3. The April 3/4 RON will be operated by a 76-seat Envoy Airlines Embraer 175. Then, on April 4, SkyWest Airlines takes over all service, offering three daily roundtrips using Bombardier CRJ700 equipment with 65 seats. This means not only an increase in frequency, but also a significant increase in seating capacity.  American Eagle service between Chicago-O'Hare and Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) includes ...

Just as I thought, the Iowa Interstate ran PESI on Sunday.    The only oddity was an empty tank car placarded UN 1993, which is for diesel/petroleum distillates. CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by BioUrja Renewables LLC and both former Rock Island depots on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Sunday, March 16, 2025. Later, the whole train is shown at San Koty and again at Mossville on home territory. IAIS 510 has 75 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I learned that Iowa Interstate was running an SIPE this afternoon, so I decided to leave the downtown library and head north. I found the train at Bureau Junction slowly rounding the curve on to the Peoria Subdivision. I was able to capture numerous runbys until darkness fell. I would expect IAIS 510 to take PESI north sometime on Sunday,, perhaps by late-morning.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is shown rolling down the Peoria Subdivision mid-afternoon to early-evening Saturday March 15, 2025. Locations are Rt. 26 at Bureau Junction, Putnam (overhead at wooden bridge, then whole south), Henry, near Sparland, W. Moffitt Street and almost "street-running" in Chillicothe, and a final runby at Rome. IAIS 510 has 88 cars with typical DDGS/mash, a couple potash and 24 soybean loads for Incobrasa Industries in Gilman, Illinois (via TP&W). Six tank cars and six gondolas, all empties, add some variety.   - David P. Jordan

The eastbound had permission from Iowa Junction onto Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property before I could get there, and I only learned of its presence after the fact. So after leaving the downtown library, I drove to Bartonville to find the train heading back to Mapleton (or further), picking up Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn is shown rolling south out of Bartonville, Illinois early evening Thursday, March 13, 2025. Having just picked up Union Pacific interchange at Collier Yard, LTEX 3010, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3836 have 61 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I usually try to capture the longer trains somewhere in 25-mph territory, but learned of this one too late. I found it at the North Limit Yard after setting out a GP38-2 (711) and some gondolas and tank cars before heading to Main 2 on the Pekin double track along Wesley Road. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad will deliver it to Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC south of Bartonville.    CAPTION: Iowa Interstate potash train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL) rolls by the Fairholm Avenue crossing in Peoria, Illinois after setting out IAIS 711 and some manifest cars at the North Limit Yard late-afternoon Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Later, the train is shown in downtown Peoria. Finally, the whole train passes the BioUrja Renewables LLC distillery. IAIS 150 and IAIS 504 were on the point. - David P. Jordan

I only saw this afternoon's northbound Iowa Interstate train because I heard radio chatter on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's road channel.   A few notes on today's consist:   (1) The ADMX tank car on the head end was empty and had no haz-mat placards, so it may be in soybean oil service. I would guess it came from Decatur on CN and is enroute to another ADM plant, but that's just speculation.    (2) The 21 covered hoppers of mixed ADM/leasing company markings are probably the same I saw last evening behind TZPR 1351 waiting for BNSF's M-PEIGAL to get out of its way.   (3) Two IAIS-marked covered hoppers were loaded, possibly with urea or phosphate fertilizer at either Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC's facility south of Bartonville or the TP&W-served Growmark terminal at Mapleton.    (4) The tank car on the rear was loaded, and placarded for industrial alcohol (UN 1170). CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. BUSW (Bureau Switcher) ran ...

On the first weekday of the time change I ended up seeing BNSF's M-GALPEI as well as turn back west as M-PEIGAL!   This afternoon's M-GALPEI was short - just twelve cars - but that happens from time to time, even with the usual two cycles per week. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has just entered Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois on an unseasonably warm mid-afternoon Monday, March 10, 2025. Minutes later, the train crosses the Illinois River on the way to East Peoria. BNSF 5654 and BNSF 6231 have twelve cars.   I left the downtown library this afternoon a little earlier than usual, and found M-PEIGAL doubled up and close to departure at the south end of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. This one had a more typical length. The added bonus was the Komatsu and Caterpillar loads.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) crosses t...

As usual, I only heard the horn as these units blew across W. Jefferson Street heading out of town. Just one tank car, UTLX 671525, was left for Fort Transfer Company.  CAPTION: Saturday morning, March 8, 2025, a TP&W local crew out of East Peoria, Illinois ran down Norfolk Southern's Bloomington District to Crandall Junction and thence the Morton Industrial Spur to deliver a tank car to Fort Transfer Company. Video shows TPW 2056 and TPW 5008 returning engine lite. - David P. Jordan

Just before leaving work this afternoon, I learned that the Union Pacific-TP&W grain MTs that I missed Thursday afternoon was loaded at Chenoa and headed west. I caught it between Cruger and Washington, in Washington and again (the whole train) at Ernest Street.  CAPTION: A Union Pacific grain train loaded on the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway at Prairie Central Co-Operative's Greenfield (Chenoa), Illinois rail loop is shown just west of Cruger, in Washington and at Ernest Street late-afternoon Friday, March 7, 2025. UP 5908, UP 2563 and UP 8124 were on the point.   - David P. Jordan

By 1530 hours Thursday afternoon, radio chatter indicated numerous train operations on both sides of the river. I shot video of three, but missed an empty Union Pacific-TP&W grain train heading east, BNSF's M-GALPEI (waiting on the Levee for space in the East Peoria Yard) and TZPR 1351 (possibly Industry 4) heading out of the Creve Coeur diesel shop to the Limit Yard to grab mash loads from the Iowa Interstate (after 1521 was working Biourja!). Of course, the KJRY train returned west after dark with a reported 51 cars. I don't know if BNSF's train crew had time to flip back west with M-PEIGAL.    I did see TZPR 1521 finishing up work at BioUrja Renewables LLC's alcohol tracks, putting together a train of nine cars (four empties, then five loads). The fifth car, SHPX 201915, was loaded, but lacked a haz-mat placard. I believe BioUrja is shipping "Distillers Corn Oil" regularly in tank cars.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local is seen at Le...

Today's train was reported to have 45 cars (30 loads/15 empties) when it left Silvis. By the time it headed south from Bureau Junction, it had 43 cars.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is first shown at Mossville, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, March 3, 2025. Additional runbys are at San Koty and on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Alexander Avenue in Peoria. IAIS 150 has NS 5194 and 43 cars.   - David P. Jordan

Busy morning.    I bagged three and missed one. I knew that a loaded Powerton-bound coal train was racing down the Peoria Sub, so I pulled off I-474 at Bartonville, headed down US 24 and set up at Mendenhall Road. The train showed up minutes later.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train CNRPW (Coal, N. Rochelle Mine WY to Powerton IL) rolls by Mendenhall Road south of Bartonville, Illinois late-morning Sunday, March 2, 2025. UP 8139 and UP 6239 were on the point, with UP 6730 bringing up the rear as DPU.   While the UP Powerton coal train approached, I heard a locomotive horn, but in the other direction. I figured a TP&W train was running along the parallel ex-Peoria Terminal Co. line. Sure enough, shortly after the UP coal train cleared my position, a TP&W local out of Mapleton rolled by. It stopped at Collier Yard to pick up two zinc oxide empties from the Union Pacific. This gave me time to shoot video of a monster 270-car train of coal empties that Union Pacif...