Peoria Station

Saturday, I decided to drive along the TP&W as far as Effner, checking on recent infrastructure expansion.  Along the way, I noticed a CSX grain train on the Prairie Central Co-Op loop at Greenfield (just west of Chenoa) and found the three-track rail loop on Incobrasa Industries property extended on the south side, and possibly complete.  Lingering in Gilman, I noticed a westbound moving along the TP&W in the distant north. A closer looked confirmed that it was a run-through train of grain empties from CSX. I wasn't sure if a Hoosierlift crew was going to drop it between Gilman and La Hogue, but when I waited at the latter, it came by me at mainline speed. Good show!  After checking new siding construction on the TP&W at Effner, I returned west and encountered the Chenoa train just past Forrest, turned around and shot video in town.  CAPTION: On Saturday, August 30, 2025, the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway ran both a westbound empty CSX grain tr...

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. ...