Iowa Interstate ZENOE/PESI, BNSF M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL 5-2-26

I caught Iowa Interstate's ZENOE about midday today. The crew stopped at the North Limit Yard to drop 22 manifest on the head end, so I left. 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate train ZENOE (Grain Loads, [Varies] to Peoria IL) rolls through Mossville, Illinois midday Saturday, May 2, 2026. IAIS 701, IAIS 152 and IAIS 519 have 130 cars (22 manifest, 108 grain loads). The manifest cars were set out at the North Limit Yard and the grain train was delivered to Canadian National on TZPR's Pekin mainline.

 

I was on the east side of the river when I heard BNSF's M-GALPEI get permission from Darst Street to East Peoria. Friday's train was a day late. This one was made up mostly of loads, including ten-car and eight-car blocks of ADM grain product traffic (perhaps BNSF has the Clinton, Iowa to TZPR business now??? If not, Marshall, Minn. and Columbus, Neb. plants might send corn germ to Decatur), three plastic loads and some nitrogen tank cars. There were eight OZIX (Ozinga) 2-bay covered hoppers as well. 

CAPTION: BNSF Railway M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by Bridge Junction at Peoria, Illinois and across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River lift bridge early afternoon Saturday, May 2, 2026. BNSF 7109 and BNSF 4240 have 44 cars.

 

I spent some time at the downtown Peoria library this afternoon, knowing an Iowa Interstate PESI was likely to run later. I left the library and found ZENOE's power on a short manifest in East Peoria, and it left shortly. When I noticed the three gondolas from Norfolk Southern, I decided to walk up the pedestrian path on the Bob Michel Bridge (unfortunately only on the north side now) to shoot overhead views. I made it with only seconds to spare. All three contained steel billets for a customer on the IAIS. I did not want to miss the BNSF train leaving so I got one more scene at Grant Street. 

CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) enters Peoria, Illinois using the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge late-afternoon Saturday, May 2, 2026. Shortly, the train is shown from atop the Bob Michel Bridge in downtown Peoria (to highlight the three steel billet loads) and at Grant Street. IAIS 519, IAIS 152 and IAIS 702 have 19 cars.

 

When I left the downtown library, I wasn't entirely sure BNSF's M-PEIGAL was still in town. When the crew brought in M-GALPEI, they were told that the outbound was on A-15 and A-38. Later, the crew said something about grabbing car(s) from A-11. After shooting video of Iowa Interstate PESI, I returned to East Peoria to find M-PEIGAL on A-38 and stretched out onto the ladder track. I waited perhaps an hour before the train had permission to depart, but it was worth it. I mean...FIVE KOMATSU TRUCK CHASSIS LOADS! The Caterpillar D9 seemed a little lonely. After it entered home rails, I decided to get it at mainline speed as it went by W. Farmington Road, and barely made it in time. Pole and tree shadows were evident, so I tried again at Kramm Road, just west of Edwards, but that shot is tighter now with a new electrical cabinet and PTC antenna on the southeast quadrant. Finally, I found a spot on Knox Road 2000 E, just west of Yates City. The train went into the sunset and I went home...

CAPTION: BNSF Railway M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) crosses the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge into Peoria, Illinois early-evening Saturday, May 2, 2026. Shortly, the train rolls by Krause Avenue toward home rails at Darst Street, makes a fast run by W. Farmington Road a few miles out of the city, Kramm Road, a few miles west of Edwards, and finally, at Knox Road 2000 E, just west of Yates City. BNSF 4240 and BNSF 7109 has 67 cars (35 loads/32 empties).

- David P. Jordan