BNSF G-PEISMR, Union Pacific Coal, BNSF M-PEIGAL, TP&W Local 2-18-26

I guess I'm assuming that these feed trains CN has resumed delivering to BNSF via Peoria are the Summerfield, Texas trains. Distributed power is new to this operation. The one I saw February 8 had but two locomotives on the point and no DPU. In the past, these trains usually rated three locomotives on the point. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway gluten feed train G-PEISMR (Grain, Peoria IL to Summerfield TX) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, February 18, 2026. BNSF 5253 and BNSF 7382 have 100 cars. BNSF 9275 is DPU.
 
I finished shooting the BNSF feed train at W. Farmington Road, returned to my car and in just a few minutes, this loaded Union Pacific coal train rolled by. I had to go to Cilco Lane at Sommer to get ahead of it. Lighting by this time wasn't so good, but this is only the second UP train I've seen this year. 
 

CAPTION: A loaded, Powerton-bound, Union Pacific coal train rolls by Cilco Lane at Sommer, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, February 18, 2026. UP5476 and UP 6949 have 131 cars. UP 5704 is DPU.

I just missed BNSF's M-GALPEI this afternoon so I lingered to catch M-PEIGAL. I did not know if it was still in East Peoria or had already departed, so I turned onto the Cedar Street Bridge and noticed it crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge. I quickly turned around and pulled onto Darst Street in the nick of time to capture this scene. 


CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) slows across Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, February 18, 2026 as it prepares to stop so the conductor can line the switch to home rails. BNSF 6306 and BNSF 7195 have 13 cars.
 
Following right behind the BNSF's M-PEIGAL was this TP&W local with Mapleton-bound cars (four fertilizer empties, two tallow loads and one methyl chloride load.) This was reportedly the second roundtrip here operated by TP&W on this day. Perhaps the shift (this week?) to the Union Pacific (instead of BNSF) of Sweetener Supply-bound salt boxcars has required increased local service?


CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in Peoria, Illinois toward Iowa Junction enroute to Collier Yard late-afternoon Wednesday, February 18, 2026. TZPR 2133 has seven cars for Mapleton industries.
 
- David P. Jordan

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