Tazewell & Peoria RR Locals, BioUrja Critter 10-3-25

When I crossed the river on I-74 this afternoon, I glanced north (as I usually do) to find a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad switcher working at PMP Fermentation Products. So I turned right onto NE Adams and made my way to the RiverPlex parking lot. 

The crew was just finishing up their work, having just shoved corn syrup loads (and maybe a sodium hydroxide solution tank car) into PMP's spur. After coupling six corn syrup empties to three other cars (a tank car, probably used as a buffer and two Komatsu chassis loads), they left for the West Yard, dropped the train and then ran engine lite across the river. TZPR 1351 paused at Bridge Junction for maintenance-of-way to clear. 

CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job leaves PMP Fermentation Products for the West Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, October 3, 2025. TZPR 1351 dropped its nine cars at the West Yard and crossed the river engine lite.

After TZPR 1351 cleared, ADMX 932 dragged 15 TP&W covered hoppers from the South Yard to BioUrja Renewables LLC's distillery. 

CAPTION: BioUrja Renewables LLC's switch engine leaves the South Yard for the distillery late-afternoon Friday, October 3, 2025. ADMX 932 has 15 cars of corn recently received from the TP&W.

When TZPR 1351 entered the West Yard, TZPR 1352 was already there coupled to 21 grain mash loads that had come from the Iowa Interstate. I don't know if these were the same cars parked there for at least the past week. The East Peoria Yard can get full quickly with longer trains and reduced frequency of connecting lines' freight trains. The mash loads were hauled across the river and delivered to ADM Grain Co. at Hilliards. 

CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, possibly Industry 4, crosses the Illinois River enroute from the West Yard in Peoria, Illinois to ADM Grain Co.'s barge dock at Hilliards, late-afternoon Friday, October 3, 2025. TZPR 1352 has 21 grain mash loads received from the Iowa Interstate. 

 

David P. Jordan