Norfolk Southern D49 10-6-25

Rivian Automotive Inc's Normal assembly plant had been shutdown the past three weeks for retooling, prior to production of the R2, which is intended to start in the first half of 2026.

 

Although Rivian should have an inventory of vehicles on hand to continue shipments, it appears Norfolk Southern's D49 job was only doing limited work there (if any) during this period, and making the East Peoria trip earlier than usual.

 

That shutdown is likely complete effective today, thus I decided to check to see if D49 was in town. Sure enough, it was, and the crew was only backing its power into its outbound at 1535 hours. 

 

Today's outbound D49 had the usual traffic -

 

2 steepwater loads

11 ADM grain product loads from IAIS

2 scrap metal empties

1 grain product (DDGS, gluten meal or feed)

3 CO2 refrigerated liquid loads (UN 2187)

3 steepwater loads

1 industrial alcohol load (UN 1170)

1 grain product load (DDGS, gluten meal or Feed)

2 Gluten meal loads from KJRY

1 corn syrup load from KJRY

1 Gluten meal load from KJRY

1 grain product load (DDGS, gluten meal or feed)

3 Plastic pellet loads from IMRR

4 ADM grain product loads from IAIS

7 corn syrup loads from KJRY

1 Denatured alcohol load (UN 1987)

1 Industrial alcohol load (UN 1170)

2 Denatured alcohol load (UN 1987)

CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown departing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at P&PU Junction in East Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, October 6, 2025. Later the whole train rolls by Farmdale. NS 6972, NS 7034 and NS 6923 have NS 7111 and NS 3040, and 47 cars (45 loads, 2 empties).

 

- David P. Jordan