Peoria Station

It wasn't a manifest, and had to hold my camera for 9 minutes, 40 seconds thanks to 10mph speeds on TZPR's double track Pekin mainline, but coal trains may be gone from the area in a few years... CAPTION: BNSF Railway train C-NAMPEK (Coal Loads, N. Antelope Mine WY to Peoria/Kincaid IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin double track at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, June 7, 2026. BNSF 9096 and BNSF 9241 were on the point of the 135-car train. BNSF 9098 is DPU. - David P. Jordan

I saw posts on this and hesitated to come into town, figuring I'd be too late. Turns out, I came in time. I still must get used to seeing those empty salt boxcars on Union Pacific. Looks like loads are delivered directly to TP&W at Collier Yard and empties are received via TZPR. The four scrap metal loads and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid tank car do not make regular appearances on these trains. As for the former, Alter Metal Recycling probably has excess scrap metal to ship to customers outside the area.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train LPD01 ("Peoria Wayfreight") eases to a stop at Darst Street late-afternoon Monday, March 30, 2026 so the conductor can detrain and line the switch before entering home rails. UP 7365 and UP 7006 have a healthy 50 cars (25 loads, 25 empties).   After the Union Pacific train crossed the river, TZPR's Industry 4 followed to run to the West Yard and switch BioUrja's Alcohol Tracks. I did not see this train, and I was waitin...

I heard radio chatter about a Keokuk Junction Railway train, though I could not confirm whether it had just arrived the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard or was about to depart. I did, however, catch Canadian National Railway's L557 local leaving on the south end.    A contractor (L. B. Foster, I think) is replacing crossties on Main 2 at Hilliards, so L557 used Main 1 instead. The conductor rode the steps on the lead unit as it passed track equipment. Given the train's glacial passage, I decided on a second try just south of IC Junction in downtown Pekin.    The train did not stop in town to pick up any local cars for Amerhart or Hanna Steel, though it may have had empties to pull from Hanna Steel, which they might switch on the train's rear end.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls gingerly on Main 1 of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin doubletrack at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), I...

Since TP&W pulled an empty herbicide tank car from Fort Transfer at Morton late-Monday night, I figured it might be on Canadian National's L557 today.    It was not.   I doubt TP&W delivered the car to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad in time for it to make L557's Tuesday run. I could be wrong because I did not see that the CN train that day.   Thursday's train was short, but the empty gondola is encouraging, indicating CN is originating scrap metal for Liberty Steel & Wire Co. again.   CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad double track Pekin main at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois at sunset Thursday, August 14, 2025. CN 8830, CN 5654, CN 8920 and CN 2313 have eight cars. - David P. Jordan

When I left work this afternoon, I knew Canadian National's L557 local might still be at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. So I exited I-474 at Rt. 29 in Creve Coeur and made my way to Wesley Road. I caught the tail end of a northbound at the crossing. I immediately knew this could be the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Industry Job returning from Pekin, and it was. TZPR 1521 had eleven cars - all loads from Alto and one of the CO2 processors.    I could not confirm whether the CN local had left or not. I could not see it from the Cedar Street Extension so I went to the downtown library. I later learned that the CN local was working industries at Pekin before 5:00pm, indicating that it probably left East Peoria after the TZPR local's arrival.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job has nearly completed its run from Pekin as it passes Wesley East in Creve Coeur, Illinois mid-afternoon Thursday, August 7, 2025. TZPR 1521 has eleve...

The local rail scene was busy in Tuesday afternoon.  Apparently, CN runs an extra symbol, L500, in the Chicago region. Regular train L557 as already reported through Delavan a few hours ahead of the monster freight I saw this afternoon. The train was heavy with ADM/leaser covered hoppers, both loads and empties. I can only guess that there is a significant volume of traffic exchanged between Iowa Interstate and Canadian National via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, and/or rail-to-barge movements.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L500 (Chicago Region Extra, as needed) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The train stopped here so a BNSF crew could couple two units to the head end of gluten feed pellet train G-PEISMR. Next scene shows L500 moving again. After switching mains at Grove, the whole train is shown entering Pekin. CN 3122 and CN 2226 have 79 cars. I cut back the first sce...

After work, I caught two area train movements. First, was this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Lead/Yard Job bound for ADM Grain Co. at Hilliards. All were loads, but I'm unsure if these contain distillers dried grain ("mash") or gluten feed pellets.   Mash moves year-round but it is that time of year for the latter, though the short cut suggests that traffic isn't moving down here on the Iowa Interstate (or any carrier), at least not yet.   Usually, feed pellets from ADM in Cedar Rapids and Clinton, Iowa move to the Hilliards barge loadout and terminal elevator when the U. S. Army Corps. of Engineers closes the Mississippi River to commercial shipping for three months from Keokuk north, starting in early December.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Lead/Yard Job pulls out of the East Peoria Yard and through Wesley East enroute to ADM Grain Co. at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois mid-afternoon Monday, December 23, 2024. TZPR 1352 has 21 cars. I knew a...

Norfolk Southern's D49 was reported westbound at Deer Creek around 1300 hours Wednesday, so I knew there was a chance to see it in the other direction after work.   I first went to check the TZPR diesel shop area where IAIS 151 was on the Creve Coeur Team Track and a PESI-like train was positioned on the West Lead (I later learned that the actual PESI had departure a short time prior to my arrival; 151 took a potash train from Wesley later in the afternoon).   I then backtracked to the Cedar Street Extension and found the NS local in the A Yard short tracks. With no radio chatter indicating that its departure was imminent, I crossed the river.    I found BNSF's M-GALPEI waiting at Darst Street for intructions from the TZPR dispatcher. Shortly, I heard the NS local get permission to depart. As I prepared to leave my spot and cross the river, the BNSF crew asked the TZPR for permission to enter the property. Fortunately, the dispatcher told them to wait, givi...

I learned that a southbound Iowa Interstate freight had passed Sparland around 10:39 this morning, so after leaving church, I drove directly downtown, figuring I could beat it there.  As it wasn't anywhere in sight, I headed to the Limit Yard where I found it stopped so the conductor could line switches for continued movement along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division.  Rain showers dictated that I used the Murray Baker Bridge for cover.  I think it worked out pretty well.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Uptown Division" under Interstate 74/Murray Baker Bridge in downtown Peoria, Illinois on a rainy early-Sunday afternoon, April 7, 2024. IAIS 719 and IAIS 716 have 31 cars.   I went home, at lunch and uploaded the video, planning to return to East Peoria in time to capture Iowa Interstate's PESI departing.  I never saw it. I believe it already left by...

I arrived Wesley Road's south end crossing just in time to see the CN L557's approach. Short train, but good variety. I didn't stick around to see it switch Hanna Steel. CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's double track mainline through Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois mid-afternoon Thursday, January 18, 2024. GTW 4908 and CN 4803 have eight cars.   David P. Jordan

If given an opportunity, I try not to miss getting the Canadian National local when it is led by unit still adorned in Illinois Central black. The operational merger between CN and IC was 23 years ago, yet the IC vibe remains. Tonight's local had 41 plastic pellet empties in blocks of 29 and 12 cars. Only four other cars - two tank cars, one loaded and one empty, and two twin-bay covered hoppers containing granulated slag - were in the consist. I can only assume the plastic empties came from the the Illinois & Midland RR. If so, then at least 43 of 45 cars came from them! As the sun had already set, I tried my new camera's 4K capability and am impressed. I don't think I could otherwise read the reporting marks and car numbers.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's double track main at Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois early evening Thursday, October 12, 2023. IC 1036 and C...

A full week after delivering to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Norfolk Southern local D49 pulled the 49-car grai shuttle from East Peoria to Good Yard in Normal earlier this afternoon. The NS dropped the train on Main 2 at Wesley sometime on Thursday and then set NS 2717 and NS 9922 on the Creve Coeur Team Track. On Friday, the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad spotted these cars and ADM Grain Co. loaded them over the weekend.  Better late than never, but NS has gone way downhill from the "Pegasus Project," which when first implemented in 1994 improved turnaround time for grain loading at Central Illinois elevators when shipping to ADM and A. E. Staley processing plants in Decatur.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 bangs the TP&W diamond at Crandall, just outside Morton, Illinois mid-afternoon Thursday, July 20, 2023 on its trip to Good Yard in Normal. NS 7717 and NS 9922 have 49 cars. Train was loaded at ADM Grain Co's Hilliards (Creve Ceour) elevator. ...

After working two hours overtime, I went into town hoping to catch a Iowa Interstate train SIPE. I learned this train departed Silvis shortly after noon today. I figured it would be in town around the time I left work (5:00pm). Turns out, I had plenty of time as I encountered it in downtown Peoria a little after 6:00pm.  SIPE had 25 soybean loads blocked on the head end, followed by four potash loads. The soybeans are going to Gilman, Illinois via TP&W. The potash cars might be going to TP&W as well. Two alcohol empties and six coil steel empties sprinkle a train made up mostly of ADM distillers' mash loads (and possible corn screenings, germ, etc. mixed in). The 18 covered hoppers on the rear (after the steel coil empties) are probably from a western Iowa ethanol plant.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is first shown early-evening Wednesday, June 14, 2023, running on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad (TZPR) by the "old" ...

List, Late this afternoon, I learned that a CN crew had arrived TZPR and moved the local power off the Creve Coeur Team Track. So I waited at Hilliards for it to appear, which it did about 1755 hours. The train was untypically short, however, with just three tank cars.  SHPX 210891 was loaded, but displayed no haz-mat placards. I'm unsure if this car contains soybean oil, shipped from "Cargill Oil Storage" c/o Gavilon Inc's Creve Coeur fertilizer mixing plant, animal fat shipped from the Darling Ingredients transload at Illinois & Midland Railroad's Quiver Yard in Havana, or something else. (BioUrja Renewables LLC has had non-placarded tank cars on its Riverside Track almost since purchasing the distillery from ADM on November 1, 2021. BioUrja was said to be planning to manufacture biodiesel here, which could be loaded into tank cars. Whether they're actually making biodiesel here is unclear.) TCBX 177143 is a sodium hydroxide solution car (UN 1824), empti...

Mild weather and trains! On January 2, a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad switcher was working in the background as I shot an IMRR local run by Hilliards. So today's encounter is actually the first time I specifically shot video of a TZPR train this year! CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin, Illinois-bound local is shown at Wesley (Creve Coeur) and Pekin early afternoon Sunday, February 5, 2023. TZPR 1351 has 20 DDGS, Gluten Feed and alcohol empties for any of three Alto Ingredients facilities. I should also note that IMRR 43 was switching ADM's Wesley Road barge loadout, pulling all but one grain mash empty. Eight loaded tank cars (most or all displaying Cargill markings) were left on Main 2, blocking access to the elevator crossing. I left to shoot the Pekin local in its namesake and when I got back IMRR 43 and those ADM and Cargill cars were gone. I later realized that the TZPR crew had already pulled these cars from Cargill Oil Storage c/o Gavilon nearby...

Since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, many companies, including my employer, recognize Monday as a day off. The railroads, however, seem to have geared back up to normal operation today. I decided to take advantage of that. Although I saw no sign of Norfolk Southern local D49 or BNSF's M-GALPEI, I did capture Union Pacific's LPD01 job classifying MCLPE at Adams Street Yard. I expected a run to TZPR at East Peoria first but instead they were to make a run to the KJRY and TP&W interchange at Collier Yard in Bartonville. Not everything went as planned. See caption for details.  CAPTION: Union Pacific's LPD01 Job, also known as the "Peoria Wayfreight," shoved cars of KJRY and TP&W interchange down the TZPR toward Iowa Junction late-morning Monday, December 26, 2022. UP 2746 had 15 cars.  Plans changed when the conductor realized that flangeways at Clarke Street were packed with ice. Concerned over a derailment, the crew heading back to Adams Street Yard...

Normally, I drive straight to the downtown library on Wednesdays after work. But scanner chatter and a visual, kept me monitoring TP&W action at the west end of its East Peoria Yard instead. I stuck around long enough to capture a power move to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. The units were going to the diesel shop, but tie replacement work on the Nickel Plate Division required a detour through the yard itself. TPW 3442, TPW 2070, TPW 5008, TPW 1539 and HESR 3485. Later, I learned that Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) had passed Mossville at 1815 hours. I was in Creve Coeur, so I couldn't intercept the train before it reached ten mph territory in The Narrows. The sunset promised long shadows. One thing I hate is partial light and shadows for pics and video, so I picked all shadows in the Bond Street area near downtown.  IAIS 506 and IAIS 153 have 117 cars, mostly loads containing corn, soybeans, distillers' grain, potash, and...

My first encounter with a Canadian National Heritage Unit! Canadian National train L557 (E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls by Hilliards (Creve Coeur), Illinois early evening Tuesday, August 30, 2022. CN 3115, the BCRail Heritage Unit, and CN 3052 have 20 cars. Nothing unusual except IAIS 7451, a loaded covered hopper 8th in consist. I'm going to assume it contains some organic (non-GMO) grain.  - David P. Jordan

BNSF units 1409-1706-1592 stayed on the Creve Coeur Team Track all weekend. Apparently, no M-PEIGAL ran on Friday. So after spending a little time at the downtown library this afternoon, I crossed the river and found a crew van pulling away from those units. Simultaneously, I heard the TZPR St. Albans Dispatcher give instructions which sound like they were directed to an outbound crew. At first, I assumed 1409-1706-1592 would move from the team track to the yard to put its train together. Minutes later, a short M-GALPEI appeared on the East Lead after crossing the river and then entered the yard. So I jumped to conclusions. Anyway, I was able to shoot the arriving BNSF "local" from Wesley Road as it passed the TZPR diesel shop. BNSF 2556 and BNSF 1404 have just 19 cars. These units tied up on the team track as well. So now you have two sets of manifest power and a set of Dash 9s in between, which probably brought in an empty ADM feed pellet train.  - David P. Jordan

I knew CN's Peoria Local, L556, had been using a pair of IC black units this week - IC 6250 (SD40-3) and IC 1000 (SD70), so after work, I drove to Creve Coeur hoping to see them lead L557 south. I wasn't disappointed, as the train was leaving TZPR's East Peoria Yard as I crossed the double track on Wesley Road. I shot a few stills at Wesley and then waited at Hilliards to shoot video. The train, running Main 1, slowed to a crawl and stopped short of the Grove crossover to wait for an empty BNSF coal train to go by. When it resmed its run, it crossed to Main 2. I got some power runbys at North 2nd Street in Pekin and again at Koch Street after the train picked up a lumber load and eight coil steel loads for Amerhart and Hanna Steel, respectively. IC 6250, IC 1000 and CN 2639 have 64 cars. The first 38 cars were ADM empties, probably last contained feed. The other 26 were "normal traffic" including alcohol, distillers' grain mash and carbon dioxide gas. An empty...