Peoria Station

 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 ...

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 

As expected, the Federal Aviation Administration's cap on flights at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, effective from May 17 until October 24, will delay introduction of United Express service to both Bloomington-Normal and Champaign-Urbana.  Both Central Illinois cities were to receive service by the airline - four roundtrips daily - starting May 7 and April 30, respectively. Champaign-Urbana's flights were already delayed to June 1. Now, both routes will begin on October 24, the day flight caps end.  Confirmation of the delay for United Express service out of Champaign-Urbana's Willard Airport can be found here.  for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport, see here .  - David P Jordan

Peoria International Airport handled 741,724 passengers through November of this year, breaking the 2019 all-time record of 689,416 with one month still to go.   An article posted online today by WEEK TV-25 notes that PIA has broken passenger records for 14 of the last 16 months.  This post will be expanded and updated later this evening.  UPDATE In November 2025, PIA handled 62,474 passengers, which was the 14th record for the past 16 months. December's tally need only be 58,276 to reach the 800,000 mark for the first time. So this year, not only did it break 700,000 for the first time, there is the possibilty that it will also break 800,000!  If it does not reach 800,000 for the full year, it will be very close, and this means that passenger traffic will be up some 14 percent over 2024.  Passenger traffic will continue to grow in 2026, but not at the pace seen in 2025. Why? Because PIA's 2025 gains aren't likely to be matched in 2025. United Express increased...

Bloomington-Normal is on a role. Radio station WGLT 89.1 FM is reporting that Delta Connection will resume a third daily nonstop to Atlanta on March 8, 2026. Online schedules show departures at 0600, 1200 and 1559 on that date. Flights are operated by Endeavor Air's 76-seat CRJ900s. The airport authority has been trying to persuade the carrier to restore the third frequency, dropped during the COVID-19 lockdown. Rivian Automotive's decision to resume work on its Stanton Springs, Georgia plant might be a factor in Delta Connection's decision to increase service, though the easing pilot shortage and softening fuel prices most certainly play into this decision. After Allegiant Air's twice-weekly nonstop service to Phoenix-Mesa, slated to start February 13, Delta Connection's increased Atlanta service is the second new air service announcement in a week. These announcements will increase service out of Central Illinois Regional Airport to 7 to 9 daily, depending on...

I found 2024 passenger stats for Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport! Radio station WGLT 89.1 FM posted a story May 27 with lots of good detail. Last year, CIRA recorded 165,701 enplanements and 163,947 deplanements for a total of 329,648. In 2023, these figures were 167,597 and 167,291, respectively, for a total of 334,888. So CIRA saw only a slight decline in traffic last year. One wonders, though, if continued commercial airline operations are sustainable. CIRA has never recovered after losing AirTran Airways in 2012. Southwest Airlines, which acquired AirTran, decided that CIRA did not fit into its plans. Capacity was cut and low-fare connections via an Atlanta hub ended.  What CIRA has going for it is Delta Connection nonstops to Atlanta, two roundtrips daily, on 76-seat CRJ900 equipment operated by SkyWest Airlines. This service draws travelers from through the Central Illinois region, including Peoria. Moline/Quad Cities is the only other Illinois facilit...

Air Wisconsin's recent decision to leave the American Eagle network will mean changes at both Peoria and Bloomington/Normal airports early next month. Presently, Air Wisconsin offers a Remain-Overnight (RON) service, arriving in the evening from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, with a return departure the next morning. A 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 is being used. Envoy Airlines provides a late-afternoon turnaround from Chicago-O'Hare on 65-seat Embraer 170 equipment.  Air Wisconsin operates its final departure the morning of April 3. The April 3/4 RON will be operated by a 76-seat Envoy Airlines Embraer 175. Then, on April 4, SkyWest Airlines takes over all service, offering three daily roundtrips using Bombardier CRJ700 equipment with 65 seats. This means not only an increase in frequency, but also a significant increase in seating capacity.  American Eagle service between Chicago-O'Hare and Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) includes ...

I thought to look at Central Illinois Regional Airport's statistics page just now, and found 2023 figures.  The facility serving Bloomington-Normal handled 167,597 enplanements and 167,291 deplanements for a total of 334,888 passengers. Air cargo volume was 11.6 million pounds.  Given the limit number of frequencies to Atlanta (Delta Connection), Chicago-O'Hare (American Eagle), Dallas/Ft. Worth (American Eagle) and seasonal Allegiant Air (Orlando-Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater) and Frontier Airlines (Denver) services, I would guess load factors were pretty good.  CIRA may be ripe for expanded frequencies or new service.  - David P. Jordan

I took a floating holiday Thursday in hopes of chasing Norfolk Southern local D49 to East Peoria with one of the BUGX F-7As. Alas, time spent switching Rivian Automotive, classifying inbound local D32 and building outbound D36 took all the crew's time. But I did capture, for the first time, switching operations at Rivian! I shot eight scenes, but only included four to avoid duplication. In the final scene, D49 has pulled 15 cars, all loaded except the first (at least that is how it appeared). These were shoved into a cut of 15 loads pulled earlier.  Rivian Automotive Inc.'s production has surged this year. The large number of autoracks at Good Yard and at the adjacent ramp today shows preference for rail transportation to more distant points, primarily western states. The company produced 10,020 vehicles in 4th Quarter 2022, 9,395 in 1st Quarter 2023 and 13,992 in the 2nd Quarter. Since the company fabricates much of its own components onsite, it may be logical to hope that som...

Quite a few grain loads, probably soybeans, have been coming off the Iowa Interstate since at least Monday last week. Today's Norfolk Southern local returned to Good Yard with 48 of them and nothing else. CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 pulls up to Crandall Junction near Morton, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, August 16, 2023. The conductor had to go to the signal cabinet and reset the red signal to green and wait before proceeding. NS 6074 and NS 7014 left Wesley earlier with 48 grain loads from the Iowa Interstate. Whole train sequence starts at 2:31.   David P. Jordan

I took today off, and contemplated how to spend it. As events unfolded Thursday, I decided to stay in the area...well almost. First, I checked Good Yard in Normal for any sign of Norfolk Southern local D49. Lately, it seems this train is spending more days of the week pulling loads and spotting empties at Rivian Automotive Inc's adjacent ramp. This means that the East Peoria run is put off until later. But not today. When I arrived, I found D36 made up and parked on the Rivian ramp "balloon" track. No power was in sight. Then, my scanner picked up radio chatter. Moments later, I saw inbound train D32 stopped across College Avenue with NS 3228 and NS 3410 and about 15 cars. I quckly assumed that D49's crew had to pull it in, as D32 usually arrives well before sunrise. Activity died off as soon as the train pulled into and stopped in the yard, so I headed back to Peoria.  As I exited I-74 onto East Washington Street, I caught the tail end of a train which looked suspici...

The downtown library was closed today, so I decided to try to catch Norfolk Southern Train D36 out of Good Yard with Rivian EV loads...and I did! Shipments have been increasingly common this summer. The journey has taken several years. Rivian Automotive purchased the Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America (MMMA) plant in early 2017. After extensive upgrades, brick-and-mortar expansion and new tooling, the plant began limited production of vehicles a year ago this month.  Norfolk Southern began hauling empty autoracks to Good Yard in spring 2021 in hopes that production would begin then. Delays caused by lack of critical components delayed large-scale production until recent months. The Normal plant is said to be able to produce 150,000 EVs per year, but will be lucky to do 25,000 in 2022.  With many of the supply chain issues eased, Rivian has decided to added a second assembly shift. Rivian builds larger vehicles than MMMA, so more autoracks will be needed even at less tha...

Monday after work, I went to Bloomington-Normal hoping to repeat last week's encounter with Norfolk Southern Railway local D36. Working first shift prevents me from seeing all but a late D49 on its return trip from East Peoria to Normal, but a late running D36 on weekdays or Saturday mornings occasionally will satisfy my desire for an encounter. I was unsuccessful Monday. D36 had already left in the morning, but D49 had a neat, 39-car car pull from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard which included Caterpillar D9 and D11 loads, and two Komatsu truck chassis loads. Fortunately, was called Tuesday afternoon and included Monday and Tuesday's D49 traffic! I drove by Good Yard to find D36 already moving. Although slow motorists made me worry I couldn't reach the W. Market location I usually favor for afternoon video, D36 had to stop and wait for Amtrak's Texas Eagle to clear BN Target before getting the signal. NS 3298 and NS 6084 have 60 cars - four o...

After work today, I decided to check out that newly-rebuilt elevator siding at Forrest. I knew TP&W's eastbound M-Train was likely to be running so I thought it best to take I-74 to Bloomington, then I-55 to Chenoa, guaranteeing my arrival at Forrest with sufficient daylight for photopgraphy. Boy did my plans change! As I neared Normal, I caught some brief chatter on Norfolk Southern's radio channel (161.145 MHz). I missed the exit for Rivian Motorway, which was fortunate, because after entering I-55 southbound, I could see an NS freight departing Good Yard. I heard the crew tell the Union Pacific dispatcher that they'd be at BN Target in "ten or fifteen minutes," so I parked near Market Street (good afternoon lighting) and waited but a few minutes before Decatur-bound D36 went by. NS 3338 and NS 3375, running elephant-style, have 49 cars. The train slowed as it approached BN Target, but the Union Pacific dispatcher has given permission to cross his mainline. ...

Spirit Airlines A-319 (top) and Frontier Airlines A-320 (bottom) are shown in final approach to Chicago-O'Hare International Airport on Saturday, June 29, 2019 Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines plan to merge.  Denver, Colorado-based Frontier and Miramar, Florida-based Spirit announced the deal this morning . The $6.6 billion deal to combine the nation's two largest Ultra-Low Cost Carriers (ULCC) will, if approved by regulators, create its fifth-largest airline.  Frontier Airlines' owners will control 51.5 percent of the merged airline while Spirit will own 48.5 percent. This may mean the carrier will retain the Frontier name.  Interestingly, Indigo had once controlled Spirit Airlines but divested of that carrier in July 2013. It acquired Frontier at the end of the year. Both carriers rely on a fleet of Airbus twin jets. Frontier operates A-320 and A-321s while Spirit has A-319, A-320 and A-321s.  LOCAL ANGLE Frontier Airlines offers seasonal nonstops out of Bloom...

I overlooked this one, which was announced September 28 .  Frontier Airlines is offering nonstop service to Tampa International Airport in Florida beginning December 17. Flights will be operating Mondays and Fridays.  Interestingly, this new service appears to be offered year-round. Flights shift to a thrice-weekly Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday pattern beginning Thursday, April 28, 2022. Tampa flights are shown through November 15.  I can't tell whether service will be offered by Airbus A-319 or A-320 aircraft, but it will one or the other (or both).  - David P. Jordan

Frontier Airlines will offer Las Vegas nonstops from Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) Starting August 12. Service will be offered on Thursdays and Sundays using 168-seat Airbus A-320 aircraft. Presently, Frontier offers Denver and Orlando nonstops thrice-weekly on a seasonal basis. Service to Las Vegas will be seasonal as well. Frontier's new flights are not the first time CIRA offered Las Vegas nonstops. AirTran Airways offered quad-weekly service from August 15, 2007 through April 8, 2008 on 137-seat Boeing 737-700s. Service was suspended until August that year due to rising fuel prices, but in fact never returned. It should also be noted that CIRA handled 183,190 passengers in 2020. This figure was down 56.5 percent from 2019 volume.  - David P. Jordan

  I tried something different this morning.  Norfolk Southern Railway local D49 is shown leaving the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, passing both BNSF's M-GALPEI (which had just arrived from Galesburg) and a TZPR 1521, working a yard job. Later, it is shown climbing the hill at N. Main Street outside Morton. I shot it here specifically for the "Winter Wonderland" scenery. NS 9814-9554 have just nine cars. Train lengths do vary quite a bit from day to day. This train operates Monday through Friday. It goes on duty at 0600 hours at Good Yard, classifies the inbound local from Decatur (D32), switches local customers and makes the run to East Peoria and return. On weekends, usually on Sunday afternoon, an extra local (D47) makes the East Peoria run.  - David P. Jordan

Central Illinois Regional Airport's 2018 Annual Report is now available here . I don't recall such a document being being made public before. Perhaps the airport authority is using the occasion to publicize last year's traffic growth? But why they waited until May (when stats were quietly posted on the airport website in February) has me scratching my head.  The eleven-page report confirms that CIRA handled 364,482 passengers in 2018, a 9.1 percent increase over 2017. The addition of Frontier Airlines' service to Denver (seasonal) and Orlando, and strong load factors on the other carriers' flights contributed to the growth. The loss of Delta Connection service to Minneapolis/St. Paul came late in the year (November 26) so the effect on passenger volume was minimal.  The report is a good read. I only wish PIA would do the same.  - David P. Jordan

Former president, George Herbert Walker Bush, left us at age 94 on November 30. His passing reminded me of video I shot of the Union Pacific locomotive which had been painted in presidential blue and white to coincide with the opening of Bush's presidential library and museum in College Station, Texas in 2005. I posted the video on December 1. Thanks to attention from international media, it went viral and as of early Thursday morning, has 27,839 views! Thanks to everyone who watched it! The video I posted was actually a decade old, having been recorded on October 31, 2008. UP 4141 led an intermodal train out of Los Angeles three days prior, traversed home rails to Kansas City and then BNSF's Transcon across Missouri and into Illinois. At Edelstein, it took the connection onto Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision. Before returning to home rails, however, another unit in the consist ran into trouble, and was set out at on the UP line at Broadmoor (near Bradford) for repai...