Peoria Station

I went to Deer Creek and waited, then chased to Carlock and Yuton. Five Caterpillar D9 tractor loads were worth the chase. Four OZIX (Ozinga) 2-bay covered hoppers were loaded, but based on their appearance on a D49 in July 2025 (before Ozinga's Peoria transfer dock was built) they might contain granulated slag from Harsco's Powerton plant (they are with EQUX plastic cars and other slag loads that most certainly came from IMRR).  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown at Deer Creek, Illinois on its return leg from East Peoria to Good Yard in Normal, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, May 11, 2026. Later, it rolls through Carlock and pauses at Yuton so the conductor can line the switch into the make up track at Good Yard. NS 6968 and NS 6923 have 50 cars. Note five Caterpillar D9 track-type tractor loads.   M-PEIGAL will have 2? locomotives picked up from the Creve Coeur Team Track.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway M-GALPEI (Manifest,...

After work, I learned that Norfolk Southern's D49 local had already left East Peoria. I decided to go after it, catching just before Carlock. I knew I could not set up in time there, but exited I-74 (due to construction) onto US 150 (waiting on the train in town) and just barely beating it to Yuton, where it had slowed before pausing for the conductor to line the switch into the "make up" track and into Good Yard's Track 5.    This was a good one. Three Caterpillar tractor loads (one D10 and two D11s), four coiled wire rod loads, a plastic load (from IMRR), an alcohol load and the usual ADM traffic from the Iowa Interstate. Two empty coil steel cars from IAIS, and a scrap metal empty. Two probable steel billet empties (also from IAIS), brought up the rear. CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway Train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL Turn) is shown slowing at Yuton, Illinois as it approaches its home terminal, Good Yard, in Normal late-afternoon Wednesday, April 22, 2026...

For the third Friday in a row, I took a half day off work, hoping those Caterpillar tractor loads would be on Union Pacific's MPECL. They were on it until they were not, unfortunately, but while waiting for MPECL's departure, Norfolk Southern's D49 snuck out of town with a short train. I heard radio chatter about it leaving, went back across the river and found it already clear of P&PU Junction. I found a spot and waited. It was my first encounter with this train in 2026! CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) is shown on the return leg shortly after entering home rails at East Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, February 20, 2026. NS 7034, NS 6923 and NS 6963 (GoRail) have nine cars for Good Yard.   Several Caterpillar tractor loads, a rarity on the Union Pacific, were switched out by MPECL's crew just minutes before departure. Although disappointed, the train had nine of those "Omaha Track" gondolas used by...

I had hopes that pe updates on social media this afternoon, Union Pacific's MPECL would depart later than usual, and that I'd be able to see it after work.   Turns out, it still left too early.   I wanted to check the signal at W. Farmington Road, but as I approved from the west, the gates lowered and flashers activated. Then I saw the Canadian National colors and the Komatsu truck chassis loads and immediately knew that BNSF's M-PEIGAL was approaching. Train is a day late, unless something has changed.  It is always a treat to see Komatsu and/or Caterpillar loads on any train leaving the city.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls through Edwards, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Train is a day late unless changes have been made to this train's schedule. CN 2891 and CN 2523 have 15 cars. - David P. Jordan

I had to go further than I wanted on account of this afternoon's snow showers. My favorite spots at N. Main Street (outside Morton) and Crandall probably weren't clear of snow, so I opted for Deer Creek.   The three Caterpillar tractor loads were on TZPR 68-foot flats, so I'm thinking these were D11s. The other 19 cars were from the Keokuk Junction Railway. Obviously, the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend affected the traffic mix for the week's first D49.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) rolls through Deer Creek, Illinois on its return leg from East Peoria, Illinois to Good Yard in Normal late afternoon Monday, December 1, 2025. NS 7021 and NS 7035 have 22 cars, including three Caterpillar tractor loads. - David P. Jordan

This is the third Tuesday in a row that Norfolk Southern's D49 local has left East Peoria around 1600 hours. They don't seem to be coming up on Mondays anymore, and a second run is made on Thursdays or Fridays. At least the accummulation of traffic makes for nice-sized trains heading back to Good Yard in Normal.   This afternoon's train had three Caterpillar D11 tractor loads. I could only glance as they passed, but I believe the information card on the tractors said South Africa. There were more of those empty Primient (Tate & Lyle, STSX) corn syrup tank cars.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) departs East Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Later, it is see rolling by the TP&W crossing at Crandall Junction. NS 7021 and NS 6923 have NS 3067 (from Des Moines) and 51 cars (40 loads/11 empties). Note three Caterpillar D11 track-type tractor loads.   - David P. Jordan

I missed M-GALPEI's arrival but after my routine visit to the downtown library, I returned to East Peoria to check on M-PEIGAL with the assumption it would run in the evening.   Sure enough, the crew was putting together its train but re-crewed before departure. Highlights on today's train include one more of those Dash 9-44CW Norfolk Southern sold to Relco (Albia, Iowa), four Caterpillar D9 track-type tractor loads and the three iron oxide loads TP&W delivered to TZPR on Sunday.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) comes off the "New Horn" after crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge early evening Monday, July 21, 2025. BNSF 7475 and NS 1078 have ex-NS 3946 (sold to Relco) and 28 cars. The three BNSF steel hoppers mid-train contain iron oxide, and were delivered to TZPR by TP&W on Sunday.   - David P. Jordan

Despite the heat, I was aware that BNSF's M-GALPEI arrived Peoria sometime in late-morning or early-afternoon, and knew I had a chance to see M-PEIGAL flip back west. Sure enough, shortly after I veered off I-474 onto SW Adams and then SW Washington streets, I picked up radio chatter giving the BNSF train permission to depart the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard for Galesburg.  Driving my desire to catch this train was that 30 years ago today, June 23, 1995, I caught its predecessor's eastbound leg. Burlington Northern local 13814 had one locomotive (BN 1596, a GP28P normally assigned to Northtown Yard in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and 14 cars on that day. One car was delivered to Caterpillar's tire plant and an empty was pulled and blocked on the rear of the 39-car outbound train left on the New Long Main (just west of Darst Street). Low lighting and low quality camera notwithstanding, I'm glad I recorded this encounter three decades ago! Back to the ...

As usual, I saw something on my way to the downtown library this afternoon after work.    I'm glad I took I-474 instead of I-74 because I came across a three locomotive/two-car Keokuk Junction Railway local waiting at Iowa Junction for traffic to clear before heading on to East Peoria. First, BNSF's M-PEIGAL as just pulling onto home rails at S. Darst Street when I drove by. After catching it at W. Farmington Road a short time later, I returned to Peoria's southside to find an empty Union Pacific Decatur coal train pulling through Adams Street Yard.   The signal at W. Farmington Road was green for a northbound UP, but I don't believe it was the coal empties. A coal empty out of Crescent or a grain empty out of South Pekin are more likely. I ended up going to the downtown library, but should have stayed at W. Farmington Road as not only the Decatur train but also MPECL departed before evening.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Ga...

On the first weekday of the time change I ended up seeing BNSF's M-GALPEI as well as turn back west as M-PEIGAL!   This afternoon's M-GALPEI was short - just twelve cars - but that happens from time to time, even with the usual two cycles per week. CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) has just entered Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois on an unseasonably warm mid-afternoon Monday, March 10, 2025. Minutes later, the train crosses the Illinois River on the way to East Peoria. BNSF 5654 and BNSF 6231 have twelve cars.   I left the downtown library this afternoon a little earlier than usual, and found M-PEIGAL doubled up and close to departure at the south end of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. This one had a more typical length. The added bonus was the Komatsu and Caterpillar loads.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) crosses t...

What I could not get Friday, I got today.   Norfok Southern train D49 arrived East Peoria early this afternoon with NS 7014 and NS 6963, the "GoRail" unit, giving me a chance to see its departure after work. Adding to the delay, the NS crew pulled NS 3033 from the Creve Coeur Team Track and turned the consist before building the outbound from two A Yard short tracks.    And typical for a Monday, the second car was a Caterpillar tractor load (a D11)! CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 (Normal IL to E. Peoria IL turn) departs the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard in East Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Monday, August 12, 2024. NS 6963 ("GoRail") and NS 7014 have NS 3033 (from Des Moines via the Iowa Interstate) and 38 cars. Later, at N. Main Street outside of Morton, the train attacks the hill toward Crandall Junction.   - David P. Jordan

I happened to catch this local early evening leaving Kolbe for Colllier Yard. Given the late hour, I wonder if it an extra EPX1 rather than the usual EP1 symbol?  Cars appear to be either tallow empties from Evonik, corn syrup empties and sorbitol loads from Ingredion, and an "environmentally hazard liquid" empty (UN 3082) on the rear, which I'm guessing is from Evonik. Not since I saw a southbound the local the evening of July 18, 2023 have I seen any indication of foundry sand traffic moving to Caterpillar's foundry. I'd like to know what is going on with that.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local runs along the Keokuk Junction Railway as it departs the Kolbe (Mapleton), Illinois area early-evening Monday, March 18, 2024. TZPR 2133 has 15 cars for Collier Yard at Bartonville...and beyond.   David P. Jordan

Sometime late-Monday or Tuesday morning, a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad switch crew pulled the eight Caterpillar tractor loads (and an empty flat car ahead of them) into one of the A Yard's short tracks. That only seven of the tractor loads moved on Wednesday's D49, offers a possible explanation: one was bad ordered. Today's train was short, and just like on January 29 and 30, I began my chase minutes after leaving work!  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 rolls toward Deer Creek, Illinois mid-afternoon Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Later, it rolls through Carlock shortly before ending its run at Good Yard in Normal. NS 3362 and NS 7014 have 18 cars including SEVEN Caterpillar tractor loads.   I returned west and went into East Peoria to check on the Iowa Interstate crew with IAIS 711 reported to be grabbing Des Moines-bound Norfolk Southern high-hood GP38-2 5199 (which I saw on Norfolk Southern D49 January 29 - it came back following an inspection at Decatur)....

Black Band Distillery, presently operating at 1000 SW Adams Street, is planning to expand to the vacant property at 2400 SW Washington Street. That is according to WCBU News .  Although the article omits it, this property has a long history with the local distilling industry. National Cooperage & Woodenware Co. constructed a plant there in 1900, though a predecessor apparently had begun barrel making operations there c. 1885. This firm survived Prohibition (1920-1933) because the barrels could also be used for packing corn syrup, condensed milk, cider, vinegar, liquid chemicals, flavoring extracts, etc. Hiram Walker & Sons, which purchased one-third to one-half of its production, gained control of National Cooperage in 1946. A new four-story expansion began in the fall of 1964 only to be destroyed by a tornado on September 14, 1965. Operations resumed at the start of 1966 and the entire plant was replaced in 1967-1968.  Changing economics led to closure in 1972. Caterp...

Like last Tuesday, Union Pacific's MPECL left early, so I didn't see it. But I soon learned that Norfolk Southern's D49 local hadn't left East Peoria, so I investigated and was rewarded with a late-afternoon departure. Other than the two Caterpillar D9T loads (on 68' TZPR flats, which were designed for the D11), traffic was typical.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 is shown departing East Peoria, Illinois on its return leg to Good Yard at Normal late-afternoon Tuesday, October 10, 2023. NS 3410 and NS 3362 has 27 cars, including two Caterpillar D9T track-type tractors.   Earlier, I had received a brief video from a friend that an empty BNSF feed train (X-SMRPEI) had just departed Galesburg. After a failed attempt to capture D49 a second time, I headed west on I-74. Just as I crossed the tracks on W. Farmington Road, I saw the headlight to the northwest! I barel had time to park and set up for video.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summe...

I learned that this train had departed East Peoria, so I left home and drove up N. Main Street in time to hear it roaring up East Peoria Hill. It was still raining so I ducked under a tree and used my camera phone for the first scene. I barely caught it at Deer Creek but couldn't set up in time, so I got ahead of it at Carlock.  A number of empty covered hoppers near the head end are unusual. Perhaps these are storage cars coming off the KJRY? CAPTION: Norfolk Southern train D49, operating the return leg from East Peoria to Normal (Good Yard), Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, July 5, 2023, is shown at N. Main Street on the outskirts of Morton, Illinois and again at Carlock 30 minutes later. NS 6108 and NS 6173 have 60 cars. Note Komatsu chassis load and two Caterpillar tractor loads near the front.   David P. Jordan

I learned that Norfolk Southern local D49 didn't leave Good Yard in Normal until late this morning on account of having to switch Rivian Automotive, besides the usual routine of classifying D32. It looks like Rivian is getting switches Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so that means D49 makes its East Peoria turn later than usual. Today's train delivered 55 cars to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, but it left with only 19. Still, it had to Caterpillar tractor loads. It left TZPR about 1430 hours, so I went after it from work, rather than go home first. I caught it at Goodfield, so I went on to Carlock and waited.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern train D49 rolls through Carlock, Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, April 10, 2023. NS 6173 and NS 6122 have 19 cars for Good Yard in Normal. - David P. Jordan

I went straight to W. Farmington Road this afternoon without checking Adams Street Yard. I'm glad I did because as I turned left from the Airport Road-Harmon Highway connection onto Kickapoo Creek Road, I saw MPECL's approach. I didn't have to wait long at my favorite spot.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road mid-afternoon Friday, October 21, 2022. UP 6365 has 48 cars, including a Caterpillar tractor load (7th car) and ten boxcars (including a bright yellow UP repaint). Train reportedly stalled about four miles north of here (and may still be there as I post this at 1641). A single unit with many loads will do that... - David P. Jordan  

Canadian National Railway local L557 (E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) is shown at several locations between East Peoria, Pekin and South Pekin, Illinois late Thursday afternoon and into the evening. GTW 5852 has 19 cars, including a Caterpillar D11 track-type tractor load, which is exceedingly rare for this train! I can't recall the last time I saw one of these on a southbound CN local here! One possible destination is Atlantic Tractor & Equipment Co. Ltd. in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The whole train is shown at Hilliards on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's double track, at Pekin after entering home rails and at Fifth Street near South Pekin. In between the last two, L557 delivered one lumber load and four coil steel loads to Amerhart and Hanna Steel, respectively. I should also note that the tank car on the rear, UTLX 671547, was the herbicide empty pulled from Morton by a TP&W crew last Friday.  - David P. Jordan

I've come to realize that Friday is better that Tuesday regarding Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA). Those of the former typically have more variety, such as locomotive wheel shipments (in boxcars) from the Keokuk Junction Railway, and occasional Caterpillar track-type tractor loads. Video shows the train rolling by W. Farmington Road in late afternoon. UP 5254 had 30 cars. The Caterpillar D10 track-type tractor load is eighth in consist. This Friday's MPECL had two boxcars and a Caterpillar D10 tractor! (A second tractor load was left at Adams Street Yard for an unknown reason). - David P. Jordan