Peoria Station

The Surface Transportation Board today granted the City of Peoria authority to discontinue service over an approximiately 1.1-mile portion of the Kellar Branch's south end on behalf of the long-defunct Central Illinois Railroad Company.  The main point of the filing involves O'Brien Steel Service Co., which has been without rail service since the Central Illinois Railroad Co. ceased operations in 2010.   "The City explains that, after discontinuance it intends to transfer approximately 550 feet of right-of-way and track at the south end of the Line to O'Brien Steel, which plans to use the track as a private industrial spur to connect to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad." I expect that the City will transfer this property to O'Brien Steel shortly, and that rehabilitation will commence soon afterward. Some or all steel plates and I-beams will arrive by rail once facilities are able to receive them. O'Brien will also likely ship scrap steel by rail as well,...

T he first Decision is entitled CITY OF PEORIA, ILL. – DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE EXEMPTION – IN PEORIA COUNTY, ILL.  (1) The City of Peoria filed a petition to the Board February 15 to be permitted to act on behalf of the Central Illinois Railroad Co. to discontinue rail service over a 1.1-mile segment of the Kellar Branch.  (2) The Central Illinois Railroad Co ceased operations in 2010 and was dissolved in 2011. Its owners can't be located and failed to petition the Board to discontinue service over the remaining segments of the Kellar Branch, thus they have failed to abide by the contract signed with the city to conduct its responsibilities in operations, maintenance, etc. (3) The Board is intituting an exemption proceeding. A final decision will be issued June 5, 2023 because of a 120-day period allowing for an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA).  The second Decision is entitled PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY CO. LLC — DISCONTINUANCE OF TRACKAGE RIGHTS EXEMPTION...

Looking north from NE Adams and Cornhill streets in Peoria, Illinois, Sunday, February 12, 2023 Here's some notes and thoughts on "AB-1056 (SUB-NO. 1X) PIONEER INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY CO. LLC - Discontinuance of Trackage Rights Exemption - In Peoria County, Ill.," a filing to the Surface Transportation Board last week and entered into the public record Wednesday, February 15, 2023.  (1) The carrier asks the STB to authorize PIRY to "terminate its trackage rights over approximately 1.07 miles of line (a portion of the Kellar Branch) located between milepost 1.71 and 2.78 (the 'Line') in the City of Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois." (2) As of January 1, 2023, the carrier is legally known as "Pioneer Industrial Railway Co. LLC." (3) PIRY's filing is part of the City's railroad service plan, discontinuing long out of service trackage rights over the south end of the old Kellar Branch.  (4) Board approval will free up the City of Peoria to 550 fe...

The  Peoria Journal Star  posted a story online Saturday (and in print on Sunday) that caught my interest: Peoria gains a 'Super Site' . The "Super Site" in question is the Medina Plains Corporate Park in northwest Peoria. The State of Illinois' Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity recently designated the park as one of 15 sites which "...has undergone a qualification process that assures it is up to standards developers require for large industrial projects." Originally called "Growth Cell 2," it was first touted for industrial development in 1995. The article describes its location "The Peoria site is located between Radnor and Allen roads, off the west end of Townline Road near Walmart Supercenter and the North Branch of the Peoria Public Library. It's south of Illinois Route 6 and north of the Pioneer Industrial Railway tracks." Criteria for a "Super Site" includes a minimum of 250 acr...

The Pioneer Industrial Railway (PRY) began operations twenty years ago today, February 20.  On February 18, 1998, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoria, Ill.-based Pioneer Railcorp assumed the Peoria & Pekin Union Railway's contract with the City of Peoria and Village of Peoria Heights to operate the Peoria, Peoria Heights & Western Railroad.  PRY ran its first train on February 20. It was forced to vacate the line in August 2005 but returned in January 2008 when the federal Surface Transportation Board restored its operating rights. Part I covers the period from 1998 to 2004 when the City began its efforts to convert most of the PPH&W, or "Kellar Branch," into a recreational trail. When I get time to create it, Part II will focus on the legal fight with the City in 2004-2005 and the failure of rail service in 2006-2007 that led to PRY's restoration. Update (March 14, 2018):  I have sufficient material for three parts. Part III will conclude...