CN L557, KJRY EP Turn, IAIS SIPE 4-1-25

The local rail scene was busy in Tuesday afternoon. 

Apparently, CN runs an extra symbol, L500, in the Chicago region. Regular train L557 as already reported through Delavan a few hours ahead of the monster freight I saw this afternoon. The train was heavy with ADM/leaser covered hoppers, both loads and empties. I can only guess that there is a significant volume of traffic exchanged between Iowa Interstate and Canadian National via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, and/or rail-to-barge movements. 

CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L500 (Chicago Region Extra, as needed) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The train stopped here so a BNSF crew could couple two units to the head end of gluten feed pellet train G-PEISMR. Next scene shows L500 moving again. After switching mains at Grove, the whole train is shown entering Pekin. CN 3122 and CN 2226 have 79 cars.

I cut back the first scene of the CN train because it crawled to stop before passing my position. Then TZPR 1351 pulled up with mash loads for the ADM barge dock, blocking my view. By this time, I knew that both a Keokuk Junction Railway local and Iowa Interstate SIPE were approaching on the Peoria side of the river, so I decided to investigate. I arrived Bridge Junction with barely time to capture video of the KJRY train. 

CAPTION: A Keokuk Junction Railway East Peoria Turn is shown at Bridge Junction In Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, April 1, 2025. LTEX 3837, LTEX 3836, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3010 have 34 cars.

Following the KJRY train's passage, SIPE waited briefly for river traffic. LIke the CN train, this train had a mix of ADM/leaser covered hoppers with both loads and empties. I'm thinking there is a relationship here than just mash out of Cedar Rapids bound for the ADM barge dock at Hilliards. 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is shown on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Bridge Junction in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, April 1, 2025. IAIS 500 has 68 cars for the East Peoria Yard.

The final two scenes of the CN train were taken last. 

- David P. Jordan