Peoria Station

When I left work at 3:00pm Tuesday afternoon, I learned that Union Pacific's MPECL had left Adams Street Yard later than usual, and was reported at Harmon Highway (Rt. 116) on Peoria's southwest side about 30 minutes earlier. I debated whether to try and catch it. I had left my camera in the car just in case.   Given the time it would take to get to the Union Pacific's Peoria Sub due to traffic and construction, I told myself "no" and went home. Minutes later, I learned the train had paused at W. Farmington Road due to an issue with the twelfth car dropping its air and went for it... CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) is shown south and again north of Camp Grove, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, September 29, 2026. NS 7613, UP 5726 and UP 2742 have 88 cars. Slower-than-usual speed may be due to a rough-riding gondola in the block of 35 maintenance-of-way cars on the rear. - David P. Jordan

A late departure enabled me to capture MPECL after work Tuesday, just like the good old days before November 2024... This train had 28 empty covered hoppers on the head end that are of the type used for trona shipments to NRG Energy's Powerton Station.  Behind these were six loaded corn syrup tank cars, and nine more further back. These are almost certainly from the Keokuk Junction Railway-served Roquette America's Keokuk, Iowa wet corn refinery. If so, routing is KJRY-UP.  I don't think I've seen that many loaded corn syrup tank cars on MPECL since winter 2022 when Roquette shifted business temporarily to KJRY-UP when BNSF was threatened with a labor strike.  CAPTION: Union Pacific MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Later, the train crests Pioneer Hill on Peoria's northwest side. UP 5726 has 71 cars. - David P. Jordan

I did not expect to see this one as typical crew call time is much earlier.   I even left home later than usual, but still managed to see a late-running Union Pacific MPECL. I often run by the south side of Peoria enroute to the downtown library in case BNSF's M-GALPEI, the KJRY local, a TZPR local out of Kickapoo Yard and maybe a TP&W EP2 or EPX1 are in the area.    It appears that three corn syrup tank cars in front and one behind the two boxcars are KJRY traffic, obviously from Roquette America's Keokuk, Iowa wet corn mill. The loaded UP coal hopper is strange.   CAPTION:   Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, March 13, 2026. UP 5879 has 28 cars. - David P. Jordan

I learned Monday that Union Pacific's MPECL would be unusually lengthy, owing to block of 31 plastic pellet covered hoppers on the rear. I would also note eight scrap metal loads mid-train. Liberty Steel & Wire seems to suspend operations for maintenance at least two weeks prior to Thanksgiving, so that may account for the latter.    I took a half day from work Tuesday and found the train ready to depart around 1130.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after entering the Peoria Subdivision mainline mid-day Tuesday, November 25, 2025. Later, the train crests Pioneer Hill. UP 5863 and UP 8135 have 79 cars.   After returning home, I learned that a westbound TP&W road freight was by Piper City shortly after 1300 hours, so I took off, tracing the TP&W along US 24 until I encountered the train at Gridley. Notables include 14 limestone loads for East Peoria Materials, five gondolas loaded wi...

I left work this afternoon with some hope that Norfolk Southern's D49 local would still be in East Peoria. Thursday, I noticed a couple strings of cars in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's yard that looked like NS outbound traffic (wire rod loads from Liberty Steel & Wire being one clue). Sure enough, when I drove by the north end of the yard, two NS motors were on the point of a healthy-looking train.    Notable traffic included twelve wire rod loads from Liberty Steel & Wire and 17 plastic pellet loads from the Illinois & Midland RR. The four AEX-marked covered hoppers were the empties.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown departing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in East Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, August 1, 2025. NS 7034 and NS 6923 have 53 cars (49 loads/4 empties). While waiting for the NS train's departure, I kept hearing radio chatter indicating a BNSF freight was in the yard wa...

I was able to capture Union Pacific's MPECL early this afternoon.    The long cut of tank cars look like what I saw on the Low Line since last Thursday. Friday's train had only four cars, so perhaps they mostly empties for today's run? Basic make-up:   SIX corn syrup empties THREE industrial alcohol (UN 1170) loads TWO steepwater loads ONE denatured alcohol (UN 1987) load ONE industrial alcohol (UN 1170) load ONE plastic pellet empty THREE corn syrup empties ONE corn gluten meal/feed/DDGS? load THREE plastic pellet empties  ONE scrap metal empty ONE beverage alcohol (UN 3065) load THREE corn syrup empties  ONE industrial alcohol (UN 1170) load ONE beverage alcohol (UN 3065) load ONE corn gluten meal/feed/DDGS load? ONE plastic pellet empty TWO beverage alcohol (UN 3065) loads TWENTY-NINE trona (dry sorbent) empties THIRTEEN grain product empties   Origins are Alto Ingredients, BioUrja Renewables, Alter Metal Recycling/Liberty Steel ...

I figured Union Pacific would run MPECL today, despite being a holiday. After checking out Adams Street Yard around 1:00pm, I had doubts, as the train had not been made up! UP 7955 and UP 5854 were parked in the yard with no cars. The former was bad ordered so the latter led today's train.   Not sure why the short train of just four cars. The Low Line had a string of tank cars (or mostly tank cars) and there were covered hoppers in the yard as well. I saw the LPD01 job switching in the yard late Thursday afternoon, so perhaps having a single operational unit was a factor. I could not tell if the other cars had not yet been delivered to TZPR or if they had been received from them. All four that were on today's train came from TZPR (the coal empty came from a connection, either CN or IMRR), and one was a denatured alcohol load.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls along Edelstein Siding near its namesake Illinois village late-afterno...

I took today off from work. Despite the rain, I decided to check on Union Pacific train MPECL. Sure enough, as I drove by Adams Street Yard shortly before 1:00pm, it was just moving toward Peoria Junction.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, June 20, 2025. UP 6452 has 46 cars. I got home this afternoon thinking Union Pacific's MPECL was the only local movement I'd record today, but not long after uploading the video, I learned that a TP&W eastbound manifest was cleared to depart East Peoria for Milepost 52 (just west of Fairbury). Possible mechanical issues delayed the train's departure by more than an hour, but I was able to capture its passage at Cruger, Illinois. CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway eastbound, often referred to as MEPEF (handled by the EPX2 crew), rolls by Grainland Cooperative's Cruger...

After catching LPD01 on Monday afternoon, I decided to leave work two hours early on Tuesday to catch MPECL. As usual, my plan does not always unfold as I hoped, but I did catch the train, finally, at Camp Grove.    I left work at 1:00pm, and drove directly to Adams Street Yard to confirm that it was gone, which it was. So I headed up I-474, Route 6, US 150, Willow Knolls Drive and finally Brauer Road and waited a few minutes, hoping to hear MPECL growling up Pioneer Hill.    While I did hear sounds I thought could be MPECL, I was smart enough to look north to see the rear end fading in the distance. I could not catch it until Speer, and by then it was too late to set up for video. So Camp Grove was the next spot I tried, and succeeded.    On my way back to Peoria, I caught radio chatter between the dispatcher and train crew. She asked them if they were at Milepost 61. They told her they were at Milepost 47. She had informed that that a vehicle was hi...

When I swung by Adams Street Yard for second time today just before 3:00pm, and saw that Union Pacific's MPECL had already departed. So I turned around and headed up I-474 and then Rt. 6, jogged US 150 and up Rt. 91.  I decided to check the signal on Alta Road. It is normally green for southbounds, but today it was dark. Hoping the train hadn't yet made it to this location, I went to Ridgeview Road and parked by Pioneer. Not a minute later, I hear MPECL coming up the hill...   Today's train must have been called for 2:00pm and departed Adams Street Yard about 30 to 40 minutes later. Given the single unit and relatively lengthy train (though mostly empties), I'd guess it took nearly 50 minutes to reach this location.    New Year's Eve should be another opportunity to see this train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) crests Pioneer Hill on Peoria, Illinois' northwest side mid-afternoon Tuesday, December 24, 2024. UP 7226 has ...

Tuesday's Union Pacific MPECL had to wait on a southbound Powerton-bound coal train, but left a little after 4:00pm. Reportedly, the train stalled on Pioneer Hill and had to double the hill and re-assemble the train to continue. Of note were twelve empty ballast hoppers mid-train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, October 29, 2024. UP 8055 has 46 cars. - David P. Jordan

I arrived home from south Florida in mid-afternoon, so I decided to check on Union Pacific's MPECL. Sure enough, it was parked ready to depart on the Low Line when I drove by Adams Street Yard. I heard chatter on the Union Pacific road channel, probably PTC issues. The train did not depart until a half-hour later, around 4:00pm.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, October 22, 2024. UP 8264 has 48 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I drove by Adams Street Yard around 3:30 this afternoon to find Union Pacific train MPECL sitting in the yard. I had already heard some radio chatter (static, nothing audible) set to the UP channel, so I knew the crew was communicating.  Turns out, they were having trouble logging in to the PTC system, getting times out on several tries. Finally, they got it. The train finally departed and rolls by W. Farmington Road just before 5:00pm.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Friday, September 20, 2024 shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois. UP 2681 has 21 cars. - David P. Jordan

A Canadian Pacific unit led Union Pacific's MPECL out of town this afternoon. The short train was otherwise unremarkable.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Later, it enters the double track at Pottstown. CP 8006 has 24 cars. David P. Jordan

I did not have to wait for very long this afternoon for my most frequent encounter. Short train today, but that is okay.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, August 23, 2024. UP 8841 has 28 cars. UPDATE: While at the downtown library this afternoon, I learned that an eastbound TP&W road freight was approaching Washington. Given the speed restriction to Cruger, I figured I could get ahead of it, which I did.  CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EPEF (Manifest, E. Peoria IL to Effner IL) rolls by Cruger, Illinois early-evening Friday, August 23, 2024. HESR 3485, IORY 5013, TPW 5010 and TPW 3440 have 44 cars. - David P. Jordan

Today's Union Pacific MPECL appeared ready to depart when I drove by Adams Street Yard this afternoon around 1540 hours. But the train did not leave for probably 30 minutes. It was by W. Farmington Road at 1627 hours.    Although the train had but 20 cars, there was a decent variety of traffic (loads and empties) from the Keokuk Junction Railway, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway.        CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois. UP 6873 has 20 cars.   David P. Jordan

I had my scanner set to the Union Pacific Peoria Sub channel when I left home, so when I heard radio chatter at exactly 1530 hours, I knew I was in business! But when I checked Adams Street Yard, the Low Line was already empty! When I turned around, I could see MPECL's tail end sitting on the Low Line, waiting for dispartcher's instructions to move north from Peoria Junction.    I drove past the old Molitor Junction area just south of Harmon Highway, I could see the approaching train, so I went to W. Farmington Road and waited. Sure enough, the train came by in just a few minutes.    Friday's train had a good mix of Illinois & Midland Railroad, Keokuk Junction Railway, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway traffic, including zinc oxide, wheels and alcohol loads.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departure from Adams Street Yard in Peoria, I...

Just as I prefer, the train departed Adams Street Yard shortly after I drove by. It passed W. Farmington Road by 1604 hours.  I didn't notice any Keokuk Junction Railway interchange on Tuesday's MPECL or today's, so I'm unsure what is going on with that carrier's operations.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, July 5, 2024. UP 8013 and UP 7791 and 57 cars.   David P. Jordan

Today's MPECL appears to be the exact same consist LPD01 handled from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to Adams Street Yard around midday Monday, July 1, 2024. Earlier, the 01 job returned from Collier Yard engine lite, and apparently did not work the Keokuk Junction Railway and/or Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway interchanges there today.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road late-afternoon Tuesday, July 2, 2024. UP 8013 and UP 7791 have 39 cars.   David P. Jordan

The crew was switching out one of the locomotives when I swung by Adams Street Yard this afternoon, and it wasn't until well after 4:00pm that it departed.  I believe a work train was somewhere up north, so MPECL initially received a track warrant to Pottstown and Pioneer.  CAPTION: Union Pacific MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois on a soggy late-afternoon Friday, June 28, 2024. UP 5767 has 54 cars. - David P. Jordan