Norfolk Southern D49 10-13-25

The downtown library was closed for an employee meeting but I decided to check on Norfolk Southern's D49 train. I had no heads up, but sure enough, I got off I-74 onto E. Washington Street and then left on Camp Street. As I approached the N. Main Street intersection, D49 rounded through the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Farm Creek bridge. I made a right, backtracked on I-74 to E. Washington Street and took a back to the Farmdale Trestle and waited.

 

I had plenty of time. 

 

I found out why. The two locomotives had a healthy 65 cars behind them. The first 15 are from the KJRY - corn syrup/sorbitol and probably organic grain in the CGRX-marked covered hoppers. Maybe six of seven ADMX/leased covered hoppers were loaded. Two NS covered hoppers were empty. The ROLX and ADYX tank cars likely contain steepwater. The next 17 cars were empty NS-marked gondolas, which I've seen pulled by the Tazewell & Peoria RR from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, but not that many at once. Next were three COER- and NOKL-marked gondolas containing coiled wire rod. Five loaded alcohol tank cars display 1170 and 1987 placards. Then, we have a lone carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid load (UN 2187). Four more loaded covered hoppers with ADMX/leaser marks. The next two tank cars were empty, and the second displays "inedible grease" stenciling, indicating both last contained animal fat (lard or tallow). Four more loaded alcohol tank cars, with 1170 placards. A loaded ADMX covered hopper. A GACX-marked pressure differential covered hopper might be from the Keokuk Junction Railway, thought why separate from the 15-car block on the head end isn't clear. Perhaps it was from an earlier delivery and was bad-ordered? Otherwise, it could have come off the Iowa Interstate. Corn starch is a possible content. One more alcohol load (UN 1170) brings up the rear. 

 

Despite making fewer East Peoria turns during the week than just a few years ago, D49 seems to be getting healthier traffic lately. The biggest sources appears to be ADM traffic from the Iowa Interstate, which presumably returns reverse route, whether loads or empties. Norfolk Southern switches ADM's West Plant, where soybeans are processed into meal and oil, and corn germ is refined into corn oil, though Canadian National has access through reciprocal switching. Apparently, some traffic that Iowa Interstate handles for ADM's Cedar Rapids facilities to and from Decatur is routed via either CN or NS. There are loads and empties both ways on both carriers. Corn germ is Decatur-bound. Loads out of Decatur are a mystery, but if I were to make an educated guess, I'd say corn screenings are sent to Cedar Rapids Dry Grind instead of Peoria with the sale of that distillery to BioUrja Renewables LLC in 2021.  

CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 rolls under the TP&W's Farmdale Trestle mid-afternoon Monday, October 13, 2025. No high-wide loads, but KJRY traffic, scrap metal empties and coiled wire rod are among the notables. NS 6972 and NS 6915 have 65 cars. 

 

- David P. Jordan