Peoria Area Train Action - March 10, 2018
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...