Union Pacific MPECL, TP&W Grain, Norfolk Southern D49 10-10-25

I took a half-day off work and decided to check on Union Pacific's MPECL. It left Adams Street Yard around 1230. Due early poor afternoon lightning at the old Molitor Junction (MP 80) and W. Farmington Road, I opted for video at Pottstown. 

CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) has entered the double track as it rolls by Pottstown, Illinois early afternoon Friday, October 10, 2025. UP 5875 and UP 7225 have 25 cars.

 

Volume might be up with the fall harvest, but it has been years since I've seen any carrier deliver this many carloads of corn to the present BioUrja Renewables LLC/former ADM distillery in Peoria.

 

When rail-to-barge grain export operations commenced in 1981, the Chicago & North Western and Toledo, Peoria & Western were granted access to ADM's Riverside Track (ex-Rock Island Belt Line) via Iowa Junction. Both carriers seemed to deliver loads, pull empties or both on most days.

 

TP&W grain volume declined with Santa Fe operation in 1984-1989, particularly due to the severe drought in 1988. The "new" TP&W revived it, handling 9,000 cars for ADM in 1991. The C&NW's merger with Union Pacific in 1995 must have made ADM nervous, and from mid-year, Iowa corn began moving from Iowa Interstate points.

 

Business seemed to drop off in the 2000s, especially as new ethanol plants in Iowa consumed in-state corn, and DDGS from from ADM's new "dry grind" in Cedar Rapids began moving to the Hilliards elevator and barge loadout year-round from about 2010. In recent years, whenever I've caught TP&W delivering loads or pulling empties at the South Yard, cuts have been short, usually no more than 25 cars. 

CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway East Peoria-based switcher crew bangs BioUrja Renewables LLC's Riverside Track after crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River lift bridge early-afternoon Friday, October 10, 2025. The train shoved into BioUrja's South Yard, via a connection out of scene at left. RCPE 3481-TPW 2070-TPW 3441-MQT 3407 have 75 cars.

 

I was blocked by then monster TP&W train for awhile, so I wasn't able to record Norfolk Southern D49's departure at East Peoria. I settled for Harding Road outside of Morton. The eight NS covered hoppers up front - all empty - are unusual. Behind them were 20 covered hoppers owned or leased by ADM that came off the Iowa Interstate. Some were loaded, some were empty. The last twelve cars are "normal" D49 traffic - two covered hoppers (probably gluten feed or DDGS) and five alcohol loads from Alto's Pekin plants along with two granulated slag and three plastic loads from the Illinois & Midland RR. 

CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) rolls by Harding Road near Morton, Illinois enroute back to Good Yard in Normal early-afternoon Friday, October 10, 2025. NS 6972 and NS 6915 have 41 cars (21 loads/20 empties).

 

- David P. Jordan