Peoria Station

Since the local media won't provide updates... If I read this correctly, almost all of Viridis Chemical LLC's assets were sold to BioUrja Capital LLC with the transaction planned to take place by July 1, 2026. This news item is dated May 8 , and appears to be the most recent update in Viridis' bankruptcy.  So it appears that BioUrja Renewables LLC, on whose property Viridis leased to build an acetic acid plant in 2025, has taken possession. Whether they intend to dismantle it and sell the equipment (including the Praj dehydration unit still at the Port of Houston) or finish construction and operate it is unknown at this time. As of today (September 14, 2026), the plant remains intact.     If the plant had started operations as intended by late-2025 or early-2026, it is likely that a rail siding from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad would have been installed for loading tank cars.  - David P. Jordan

List, It is always good to see one of the local G&W shortlines working. This job crossed the river with empty tank cars for BioUrja and BNSF's M-GALPEI waited its turn to cross the river.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 4" crosses the Illinois River into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, September 9, 2026. TPW 2105 has ten cars for the West Yard. I was surprised to see BNSF run an M-GALPEI on Wednesday when it ran (and flipped back as M-PEIGAL) on Tuesday. Tuesday's train would have run Monday if not for the Labor Day holiday. I'm not complaining though. Maintaining frequency is a good thing...  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by Pottstown, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Later, the train is shown on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad near Bridge Junction enroute to East Peoria. BNSF 7825 and BNSF 6871 have 22 cars. I learned that an empty Union Pacifi...

I noticed the yellow signal indication for Main 1 at Wesley, so I lingered betweent her and Hilliards. The train finally came. The short consist reflects the recent holiday.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin Local (possibly Industry 3) rolls by Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois on the double track main. Shortly, it enters the East Peoria Yard area at Wesley. IMRR 43 has eight cars. I arrived too late to see M-GALPEI before crossing the river, but did notice its power heading through the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. The train probably ran a day late due to the holiday. Perhaps M-GALPEI was a big train, otherwise four units is odd.  I tried to capture M-PEIGAL a third time, but left W. Farmington Road only to see the gates activate through my rearview mirror. I ended up catching a going away scene at Pottstown. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls across the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's...

Despite the heat and humidity, I went out this morning after learning an an Iowa Interstate ZENO-E train was due into Peoria. At San Koty (a few miles north of Peoria), I made a right from Rt. 29 across the track and parked by the Firefighter training center with seconds to spare before I heard the horn. The train had a block of manifest cars on the head end. I can confirm that there were 23 as they were set out at the North Limit Yard, and the empty coil steel car was last. Sometime in early afternoon, the rest of the train crossed the river and left it on Main 2 at Hilliards, breaking it at the elevator access road crossing.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate train ZENO-E (Grain, Atlantic IA to Peoria IL) rolls by San Koty, Illinois a few miles from the North Limit Yard in Peoria, Illinois, where 23 manifest cars on the head end were set out. The 111 grain loads will go to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track main. IAIS 501 and IAIS 506 have 134 cars. In mid-afternoon,...

The story hasn't been posted online yet, but WMBD TV-31 (Peoria) ran a story on Thursday's 6:00pm broadcast on air travel during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.  Most noteworthy is that Peoria International Airport's Director of Operations, Gene Olson, told the station that passenger volume has been running five percent below last year , though he notes that these second place numbers are still pretty good. If this trend continues, then 2026 passenger traffic will probably be about 40,000 less than 2025's record 812,396, or about 772,000. I expected this because the airport has not posted anything publicly on monthly passenger numbers this year. They are quick to do that when there is a record month. If there is no record month, only the full year's stats are released by mid- to late-January in the following year. It should not be this way. Monthly passenger and cargo statistics should be released regardless, and faithfully reported by local print and television med...

After work today, I planning to check out Bartlett Grain Co's recently-completed "El Camino" (Sheffield) elevator on Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision, but when I saw the green signal indication for a southbound at Edelstein, I decided to follow the line closely in hopes of catching a train movement.  Tall corn can obstruct trains where there are no parallel roads, so my progress was slow. On Sundays and Wednesdays, there is always a possibility that MCLPE will run early, and this Wednesday it did. Turns out, had I gone to El Camino first thing, I would have gotten both, and in better lighting. Train consist is typical. Notables are four salt boxcars for TP&W and five corn syrup loads (one as first car, used as a buffer for an empty alcohol tank car) consigned to TZPR-served PMP Fermentation. A lone empty Ozinga (OZIX) 2-bay covered hopper indicates Union Pacific is getting some outbound cement materials (slag and coal ash) business. CAPTION: Union Pacific trai...

I learned that an Iowa Interstate PESI was at East Peoria this morning, and later was able to shoot video of it at San Koty, a few miles out of the North Limit Yard. This train of 92 cars may have had only ten loads. The last six cars of the second block of covered hoppers were loaded. Two denatured alcohol (UN 1987), an iron oxide load (CIGX gondola) and a coil steel load (NS coil care car) were the others. NOTE: IAIS 152 was coupled to a PEDAV (potash empties) this morning and afternoon, but I saw no sign of a crew, probably tomorrow.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls along home rails at San Koty, Illinois late-morning Sunday, August 30, 2026. IAIS 503 has 92 cars. Incobrasa Industries' massive expansion at Gilman, and purchase of the American Milling Co. feed mill and barge dock at Crescent (Pekin) has created sufficient volume for the TP&W to run East Peoria-Powerton turns for direct interchange with the Illinois & Midl...

The TP&W ran an eastbound "M-Train" for the second late-afternoon/evening in a row today.    I don't know if it was some kind of extra movement to handle "hot" cars, but most were loads - five nitrogen fertilizer solution loads and at least one bag dust load from BNSF (via TZPR); two denatured alcohol, two beverage alcohol and one industrial alcohol load from TZPR and two salt boxcars and five phosphoric acid tank cars from Union Pacific.  CAPTION: An eastbound Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway M-Train, sometimes known as M-EPEF (Manifest, E. Peoria IL to Effner IL), rolls through El Paso, Illinois early evening Monday, August 24, 2026. This was the second such train two days in a row. IORY 5007, TPW 5015 and TPW 5009 have 26 cars. - David P. Jordan

I had finished mowing my yard Sunday afternoon when I was given a heads up that a TP&W freight had departed East Peoria for the east. I figured I could intercept it and catch it at Cruger. Sure enough, the train's glacial speed through Washington and to Cruger proved me correct. I ended up chasing it and getting a second video at El Paso. The first 49 cars were soybean loads for Incobrasa Industries' Gilman plant.  CAPTION: An eastbound Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway manifest, sometimes known as M-EPEF (Manifest, E. Peoria IL to Effner IL), rolls by Grainland Farmers' Cruger elevator late-afternoon Sunday, August 23, 2026. Later, it rolls through El Paso at reduced speed. TPW 3386, TPW 5010, TPW 5008 and IORY 5014 have 78 cars. - David P. Jordan

I worked until 5pm again today, and thought I'd miss 510 leading PESI out of town. By the time I left work, however, I saw nothing on PESI, so I hoped it had not left yet. I went into East Peoria and heard the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Manager of Operations (MOP)  tell them they could "blast off."  I missed it crossing the river, so I settled for Chicago Street by BioUrja Renewables LLC's Peoria distillery. I chased it to Mossville, getting another full runby at San Koty and a short video at Mossville.  The vast majority of PESI's consist was made up of empties, lasting containing mash (from ADM), corn (probably from Alto-Pekin?), potash (probably from TP&W?), etc., but there were also a dozen (eight- and four-car blocks) of gondolas that are probably iron oxide loads from TP&W.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by BioUrja Renewables LLC's Peoria, Illinois distillery late-afternoon Tuesday, Augus...

 List, I was in the right place at the right time this afternoon to catch this movement. I found the first clearing with good lighting and took it. The tank cars were empty, so they are probably going to be spotted for loading at soybean oil tanks ("Cargill Oil Storage") adjacent MacroSource's North Pekin fertilizer mixing facility. The 18 covered hoppers are grain mash loads for ADM Grain Co's Hilliards (Creve Coeur) dock. I did not hear the train designation, but it might be Lead 3. I heard IMRR 43 as "Industry 4" enroute to Pekin a short time later.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local rolls down Main 2 through Wesley East enroute to Hilliards with cars for Cargill Oil Storage (c/o MacroSource) and ADM Grain Co. TPW 5008 has 20 cars. I actually went into East Peoria because of this.    Norfolk Southern train D47 arrived the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard late Monday afternoon. Normally, D49 handles this business in ...

  Like two weeks ago, this one has some variety.  It is good to see the eight loaded gondolas on the rear. I lacked a vantage point to see what was in them, but reporting marks match the cars used for iron oxide shipments from TP&W-served Waelz Sustainable Products' Clymers, Indiana plant. This traffic moved on a TPW-TZPR-IAIS-CPKC routing for about a year starting in March 2025.  The four Incobrasa covered hoppers must be needed to complete a trainset? The PESI which ran two weeks ago had but five of these cars. Usually, IAIS-served elevators load 25 at a time.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls through downtown Peoria, Illinois midday Sunday, August 16, 2026. Later, it is shown on home rails at San Koty, a few miles north of Peoria. IAIS 508 has 58 cars. - David P. Jordan

On the 139th anniversary of the Chatsworth Wreck, we have a mystery.    I can confirm from another railfan's video that this was the same set of grain empties that Canadian National Railway delivered to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track Sunday morning, August 2. Iowa Interstate moved it out of town with lone SD38-2 IAIS 153 on Monday morning. The train returned loaded this morning behind IAIS 506 and IAIS 511. Late this afternoon, a TP&W crew took it from the TZPR double track and rolled it through East Peoria and Washington to Cruger where it was left on the main track by Grainland Farmers elevator. The crew cut off all six locomotives. Last I saw them, they were on the adjacent siding.    Grain trains co-loaded at various Iowa Interstate-served elevators in central and western Iowa were moving frequently to CN via Peoria since January. I believe the last loaded train was interchanged to CN in mid-June. CN delivered the empties as G889 ...

I caught this empty grain train slowing toward Christmas Tree Road at South Pekin, but which I had been able to capture it first just south of Allen Station at mainline speed. Oh well, I still got it on the lesser-used section of Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision.  If I heard correctly on the symbol, I'd love to know what "HH" is. Must be in Iowa, or perhaps in Minnesota. The Dupo origin suggests a repositioning move.  CAPTION: A northbound Union Pacific train of grain empties, GSDUHH (Grain Shuttle, Dupo IL to Hope MN), slows toward a stop short of Christmas Tree Road at South Pekin, Illinois late-afternoon Saturday, August 8, 2026. Later, the train rolls along the mainline toward a crew at what is left of the Chicago & North Western Railway's South Pekin Yard. After the new crew is aboard and the dispatcher gave them track warrants to Nelson, the train rolls by Chester L Road. A little more than an hour later, shortly after 1900 hours, the train rolls by ...

I missed SIPE coming in this morning, but captured PESI's departure in the afternoon.    SIPE arrived with three locomotives, but 153 was left on the Creve Coeur Team Track for the next ZENOW, which Canadian National brought up this morning. I also noticed that the North Limit Yard was full, so this morning's SIPE may have set out most or all of its cars there and ran engine light to East Peoria.    As noted in the caption below, today's PESI had a good variety of traffic/rolling stock. The coiled wire rod loads are from Liberty Steel & Wire Co's Bartonville mill. These movements seem to be occasional, but only started after Liberty reopened after idling the plant in 2024-2025. I believe they go east from Chicago on CSX.    The coil steel load was received from Norfolk Southern and is enroute to a transload at Altoona, Iowa.   The five Incobrasa covered hoppers are empty. Usually, TP&W hands off 20 to 25 at a time for loading in central...

I came across this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local waiting by BioUrja Renewables LLC's plant for the bridge to come down, which happened shortly. Train had four corn syrup empties (probably from PMP Fermentation Products, though those usually have ADMX markings), two other empty tank cars (possibly buffer cars), a beverage alcohol load, two denatured alcohol placarded tank cars which appear empty (second one has a home shop decal), a corn syrup tank car that appears to be loaded, and two truck chassis loads from Komatsu.   CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 1" job diverges toward Bridge Junction in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, July 31, 2026. IMRR 43 has 12 cars, including two Komatsu truck chassis loads for the East Peoria Yard. A good substitute for missing Union Pacific's MPECL Friday afternoon. I have been working a lot of overtime lately, so I have less time for these encounters. I assume BNSF is still trying to run its G...

Today marked my first encounter with an Illinois & Midland Railroad local on its "Springfield Main" since April 19, 2020, also a Sunday. I've seen them on East Peoria turns and I've seen wind turbine tower and blade trains on the Springfield Main. The locals are pretty random, and catching them is a treat.    I first noticed the two locomotives in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin Yard adjacent Alto Pekin LLC's wet corn mill in mid-afternoon. I had an appointment for an oil change so after that was done, I returned to Pekin to hear the dispatcher give permission to depart Powerton south. I finally found the train near County Road 11000 North with just one covered hopper (CVHX 896100, plastic load).    I stepped out of my air conditioned car and the camera lens fogged up. I kept wiping it, only to have it fog up again, so that is the explanation for the first scene.    CAPTION: A southbound Illinois & Midland Railroad local out of Pow...

On July 11, the Federal Aviation Administration extended its Chicago-O'Hare flight cap for another year. Central Illinois media took nearly two weeks to report the effects on United Express service to Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.  As expected, United Express must delay service to both cities by at least another year. Before the flight cap extension, four daily roundtrips were slated to begin on October 24.  Bloomington-Normal's WGLT 89.1 FM radio reported the story here . Champaign-Urbana's WCIA Channel 3 reported the story for its viewers here .  It seems that the FAA's flight cap will prevent service from starting to either city, and there is no longer a start date. The previous delays were frustrating to CIRA, as signage, staffing and ticketing were ready for the start of service when originally set to start on May 7.  - David P. Jordan 

I had to work until 5:00pm today, but managed to catch a westbound TP&W road freight between Secor and Eureka. My first attempt failed as a cloud hid the sun for most of the train's passage. I got it again at the crossing adjacent the Evergreen FS plant. I again attempted a runby at Cruger, but the train paused here for a crew change. I had other plans, so I went home.  CAPTION: A westbound Toledo, Peoria Western Railway "M-Train" passes the Evergreen FS fertilizer facility east of Eureka, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, July 22, 2026. A short time later, the train pulls up to Cruger for a crew change. IORY 3492, TPW 3443, IORY 3472 and TZPR 2133 have 95 cars . As usual, I checked an earlier video and can match eleven cars to a Hoosierlift-Luthy (siding east of Monticello) turn I caught Sunday on its westbound return run. (Information is not 100% certain, but very likely).  CCLX 819 (sorbitol empty from NS at Logansport, to Mapleton) AEX 8193 (DDGS from The Ander...

For those wanting to see it, the locomotive and train is viewable from the east side of Union Pacific's Bloomington Yard. It will depart at 8:15 Saturday morning for Springfield, Girard and St. Louis.  CAPTION: Union Pacific's 1.2 million pound 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" steam locomotive pulls through Uptown Station at Normal, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, July 17, 2026. Shortly, the train shoved into the Bloomington Yard where it will remain until Saturday morning. A bonus was AgRail LLC's rare SD18M, WIRX 1229, switching the elevator on the yard's west side. Behind UP 4014 were two extra tenders (UPP 809 and UPP 814), diesels UP 1616 and UP 1776, and a dozen cars. - David P. Jordan