O'Brien Steel Acquired Railroad ROW in 2024 (And Other News)


The Peoria Journal Star is really getting interested in the Detweiller Marina controversy. As there are no restaurants involved, this might be an accidental act of journalism. 
 
Yesterday (May 8, 2026), Peoria's newspaper of record ran a story with a lot investigative research. It revealed that O'Brien Steel and City of Peoria were discussing closure of Caroline Street as far back as August 2023 "with the approval of the Detweiller Playground trust." Tim Herold, a member of the Peoria Park District Board of Trustees, obtained emails between the parties as part of a FOIA request. It says this contradicts statements by O'Brien Steel president J. P. O'Brien. 
 
Herold provided nearly five years of communications between Detweiller and O'Brien regarding plans for expansion. This included expanded administration offices and and a new maintenance building. That information goes back to June 1, 2022. What is most interesting is that closure of Caroline Street required acquisition of city-owned Kellar Branch right-of-way through steel company property. Sale was approved by the city council on August 13, 2024. 
 
The Peoria Journal Star contacted O'Brien Steel Service Co. for its side of the story. J. P. O'Brien told the paper on May 4, "The most important consideration at that time was the potential restoration of rail service to O'Brien Steel, which was lost in 2012." (He is off by two years - last service was in 2010 when Central Illinois RR Company shut down and began liquidation. Pioneer Industrial Railway did not provide service after that.) Safety of personnel and equipment was a consideration in discussions regarding Caroline Street, but nothing has happened since they acquired the railroad track. He suggests that opponents of O'Brien's plans to acquire Detweiller property originated current discussions on closure of Caroline Street. 
 
Another article the same day noted that on Wednesday night (May 6), the Peoria Park District Board of Trustees turned down a deal with the Detweiller Marina to expand the Rock Island Greenway trail's easement to 14 feet and right of first refusal to purchase green space north of the property. The vote was 4-3 with the board president (Robert Johnson) casting the deciding vote. 
 
The usual trail idolatry is in play here. Hopefully, O'Brien Steel decides to go ahead with its planned purchase of Detweiller Marina property. The Peoria Park Board can pick up the pieces of its stupidity. 
 
- David P. Jordan

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