Peoria Station

When I left work, I learned that the Keokuk Junction Railway local was picking up the two F-7As (BUGX 401 and BUGX 402) before heading to East Peoria. Those former Gettysburg & Northern F-units have been at Kolbe since October 18, reportedly for mechanical work. They were enroute to the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad in Kansas but that carrier was shutdown by the Federal Railroad Administration earlier this month for a number of violations. Whether these units are still enroute or if they have a new destination is unknown at this time. Note that they had been on the KJRY since October but arrived the area (separately) on Norfolk Southern in late-August.  As I waited for the KJRY to move, I learned that BNSF's M-PEIGAL had permission to depart the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. Given the great afternoon sunlight, I decided to capture the train crossing the river and again at my favorite Darst Street perch. I figured I had time to get it one more time...

Canadian National Railway acquired the Illinois Central Railroad in July 1999, almost a quarter century ago, so it is good to see IC black units still roaming the area.  When I left work, learned that L557 had departed the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard and was working at Pekin. So went to Hanna Drive, arriving in time to watch the train shoving a loaded centerbeam flat car into Amerhart Ltd. An empty coil care car on the head end indicates that the crew had already switched Hanna Steel.  CAPTION: Canadian National train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls across Fifth Street near South Pekin, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, January 11, 2024. IC 1036 and IC 1038 have 22 cars.   - David P. Jordan