Peoria Station

The last time I witnessed a loaded, northbound grain extra on the Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision was on October 3, 2021. Loaded at BNSF-served ADM Grain Co. in St. Louis, five locomotives were required to get 102 corn loads up Pioneer Hill. It actually stalled with four the day before and the crew parked it just south of W. Farmington Road. When a fifth unit was added (probably ran engine lite from Clinton), they made another go of it.   The reason for northbound grain loads? A derecho had severely damaged Iowa's corn (and soybean) crop in July 2020, so processors had to import grain to make up for the shortage. A 42-car cut of corn was loaded at Encompass Grain & Rail's Allen Station terminal on November 6, 2020 and added to an MPECL (possibly that afternoon's train). It was a rare move for the LPD01 local as well.    It is possible then that Encompass loaded this 115-car train I saw this evening, but why it was routed north is unclear.  CAPTION: A rar...

On my way to the downtown library this morning, I noticed a TP&W train building a train at the west end of the East Peoria Yard. I figured it was close to departing, so I stopped off W. Washington Street. Sure enough, radio chatter confirmed my suspicions.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway East Peoria Switcher negotiates the curve toward the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard to make a delivery late-morning Saturday, April 27, 2024. IORY 5014 has 32 cars.   Waiting for the TP&W transfer to show itself, I had already received a heads up on Iowa Interstate's SIPE. As soon as the TP&W passed my position, I headed north along Rt. 29, encountering SIPE just before The Narrows. I turned around and set up at Lorentz Ave.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division at the North Limit Yard midday Saturday, April 27, 2024. IAIS 517 and IAIS 700 have ...

I felt like Wile E. Coyote with the storm following me and the train... When I arrived South Pekin, the train was sitting on the main track waiting for the crew to arrive. So I went to the local Casey's, used the facilities and bought a snack. Shortly after returning trackside, the crew arrived and it started to rain. I had to shoot from my car at Townline Road.  I thought I had a chance of getting it again at Allen Station, so I waited out a heavier downpour before the train's arrival. It was still raining when it rolled by, so again I shot from my car. The first scene was done with my phone, the second with my new camera. Overcast and inclement weather aren't the best conditions for getting used to a camera.  CAPTION: A southbound Union Pacific train of ballast empties (mostly) departs South Pekin, Illinois mid-afternoon Sunday, September 17, 2023. Later, the train rolls by Encompass Grain & Rail's Allen Station grain elevator. UP 8976 has 61 cars, a few of which...

Saturday was a good day. That morning, I noticed three UP units moving toward Peoria. I quickly concluded I couldn't catch them before the Brauer Road crossing, but did notice this empty grain train waiting to depart. I turned around and found a good sunny location. I'm assuming that this train was bound for Rock River Lumber & Grain at Sterling. At W. Alta Road, UP motors 5472 and 6268 led 75 cars with 5834 as DPU. My intent Saturday morning was to reach Springfield and wait for the passage of a second Union Pacific blade train that was passing through St. Louis after sunrise. I parked near Springfield's Amtrak depot and waited. Almost immediately, Amtrak 301, the Lincoln Service train from Chicago to St. Louis, coasted to its scheduled stop. Amtrak's new SC-44 "Charger" locomotives are being assigned to these trains this month. No. 4604 has an all- Horizon Fleet consist.  Minutes after 301's departure, Amtrak 22, the San Anto...