Peoria Station

I came across this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local waiting by BioUrja Renewables LLC's plant for the bridge to come down, which happened shortly. Train had four corn syrup empties (probably from PMP Fermentation Products, though those usually have ADMX markings), two other empty tank cars (possibly buffer cars), a beverage alcohol load, two denatured alcohol placarded tank cars which appear empty (second one has a home shop decal), a corn syrup tank car that appears to be loaded, and two truck chassis loads from Komatsu.   CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 1" job diverges toward Bridge Junction in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, July 31, 2026. IMRR 43 has 12 cars, including two Komatsu truck chassis loads for the East Peoria Yard. A good substitute for missing Union Pacific's MPECL Friday afternoon. I have been working a lot of overtime lately, so I have less time for these encounters. I assume BNSF is still trying to run its G...

I was in town for another reason, but happened across this TZPR local. It was waiting by BioUrja for boat traffic. The bridge was lowered and it moved toward the junction only to pause for a red signal. It had to wait on IMRR 43 coming up from Pekin engine lite. Finally, IMRR 43 came to the bridge, reversed into the West Lead and IMRR 2108 finished its trip to East Peoria.    The first two tank cars, pulled from PMP Fermentation Products, were loaded. The second one was very likely a liquid sodium gluconate load. The first perhaps the same, but the more dilapidated appearance makes me wonder if PMP uses it to ship wastewater on occasion. Two empty flat cars and four flat cars loaded with Komatsu truck chasses.    CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local crosses the Illinois River after working the Uptown Sub, mid-afternoon Saturday, May 23, 2026. IMRR 2108 has 12 cars. - David P. Jordan

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

Driving eastbound on Interstate 74 just before the bridge, I just happened to see the SW-10 and a few flat cars, so I exited onto Riverfront Drive and on the Bob Michel Bridge back across the river. Grant Street had too much snow, so I opted to wait at Alexander Avenue while the crew spotted two or three empty flat cars into Komatsu and pulled two truck chassis loads.   After pulling across Alexander Avenue, the crew left the train on the main and ladder track in the North Limit Yard, used the pocket to runaround the train and then pulled back south across Alexander Avenue. My hands were hurting (despite wearing gloves), so I decided to warm them up instead of sticking around to shoot switching operations at PMP Fermentation Products.    This will be the train that switches Viridis Chemical between BioUrja Renewables LLC and the West Yard, if and when rail facilities are built.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local pulls northbound across Alexander ...

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...

When I drove by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard after work this afternoon, I noticed BNSF power at the south end. I was to late to see M-GALPEI's arrival, but knew I had a chance to see M-PEIGAL flip back west after leaving the downtown library.   The Komatsu chassis load and empty BNSF flat car were pulled by TZPR Industry 2 on Friday. The non-placarded tank car right behind them might well contain distillers corn oil from BioUrja.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and onto home rails at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois early evening Monday, May 12, 2025. A short time later, the train rolls toward W. Farmington Road. BNSF 5893 and BNSF 6740 have 21 cars.  - David P. Jordan

Friday was my birthday so I took a vacation day and spent the day looking for action that I would not normally see.    The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Industry 2 job soon became the focus of my attention, as evidenced by 32 minutes of footage! CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 2" Job works the Uptown Division between Bridge Junction and the North Limit Yard in Peoria, Illinois on May 9, 2025. TZPR 1352 left East Peoria with 18 cars - four empty flats for Komatsu America Corp. plant, six corn syrup loads, a sodium gluconate empty and sodium hydroxide solution load for PMP Fermentation Products, two empty alcohol and three possible distillers corn oil empties (or buffer cars) for BioUrja Renewables LLC. A tank car between the last two cars for PMP appears to have used as a buffer. Train pulled one chassis load and an empty BNSF flat car from Komatsu and five corn syrup empties from PMP. Last scene shows the train across the river after sw...

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...

The Iowa Interstate ran PESI too early for me to capture. It was reportedly nearing the North Limit Yard around 1400 hours. When I swung by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Creve Coeur diesel shop, Canadian National's L557 was just getting ready to leave the Creve Coeur Team Track with CN 5726 and CN 2541, which will probably be "turned" before coupling to its train. I did not stick around as it will likely be dark before departure.    I did see a TZPR Industry Job at the West Yard as I drove the Cedar Street Bridge in Peoria. No sooner did I pull into Leland Street did the crew ask for instructions to East Peoria. The first five cars are empty corn syrup tanks from PMP Fermentation Products. Behind that is an empty sodium hydroxide solution tank car (UN 1824). The seventh car, clearly loaded based on pressed truck coil springs, doesn't look like typical cars used to handle S-45/sodium gluconate. But that may be what it contains. A Komatsu truck chassis load...

When I drove the Cedar Street Extension in East Peoria, I saw the unmistakable KJRY power coupled to an outbound train. I also noticed the Iowa Interstate's PESI waiting for departure. The KJRY train was quickly given permission to depart for Iowa Junction. The Iowa Interstate train was given permission to depart when the KJRY passed.    I was hoping to catch the Iowa Interstate train, but as it turned out, a TZPR local with IORY 5013 had Komatsu high wide load(s) and the PESI could not pass it. I found this train switching PMP Fermentation Products, but darkness fell, and temperatures dropped. I decided to leave. At least I got the KJRY train.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's East Peoria Turn is shown crossing the Illinois River after departing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard mid-afternoon Friday, January 24, 2025. Moments later, the whole train is shown at Sanger Street. LTEX 3010, PREX 2003 and LTEX 3836 have 41 cars, all empties. -...

Recently, I noticed Incobrasa Industries covered hoppers at Alto Pekin LLC's wet corn mill elevator, indicating TP&W is borrowing these cars for general service to online elevators or Inco Grain Ltd. is loading for for Alto at its Goodland, Indiana elevator.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local from Pekin is shown at Wesley (Creve Coeur), Illinois moments from arriving the East Peoria Yard on a cold and soggy mid-afternoon Saturday, December 14, 2024. TZPR 1352 has 16 cars. I received a heads up on BNSF's M-GALPEI too late to see it arrive Peoria, but was able to catch M-PEIGAL's run back west. I don't know if this was a third cycle for the week, or if Thursday's train was delayed until Saturday. Either are possible.  CAPTION: After crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge, BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) curves toward Sanger Street in Peoria, Illinois on a cold and soggy mid-aft...

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

CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad "Industry Job" rolls along S. Water Street in downtown Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, November 15, 2022. TZPR 1351 has five empty corn syrup tank cars pulled from PMP Fermentation Products, and two truck chassis loads from the Komatsu plant. I passed on Union Pacific's MPECL today. The EOT was flashing but with no movement or radio chatter by 4:00pm, I left the Adams Street Yard area. But when I arrived downtown, I heard a locomotive horn and came across this!  Hopefully, in the not-too-distant-future, locals like this working the Uptown Division (ex-Rock Island) will be handling steel to and scrap metal from O'Brien Steel Service Co. I've seen nothing new on plans to restore rail access and obtain service from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, but I assume that the project is still a go.  O'Brien Steel does a lot of work for Caterpillar and Komatsu, and for its Rohn Products subsidiary as well. So steel p...

Early Sunday afternoon, I found a Norfolk Southern freight train in the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard readying for departure back to Good Yard in Normal. The Komatsu truck chassis and four Caterpillar tractor loads were a nice treat! Komatsu loads have appear regularly on weekday local (D49) in recent weeks. I saw three on July 2's train, and two on July 9. Notably absent are Caterpillar tractor loads. Norfolk Southern handles these out of East Peoria on occasion, but I rarely catch them. Until Sunday, July 12. Extra local D47 had four loads - three D11s and a D9. This traffic is for export via three ports - Baltimore, MD (Dundalk Marine Terminal), Portsmouth, VA (Portsmouth Marine Terminal) and Savannah, GA (Ocean Terminal - Georgia Ports Authority). As states reopen and economic activity returns, truck rates have risen. So it is logical to assume that Caterpillar has begun to shift some export shipments back to rail. Increased orders are also a likely...

An article appearing in Wednesday's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel online  includes an ominous possibility, not for now, but possibly the near future.  First some background. Komatsu acquired Joy Global on April 5, 2017. Renamed Komatsu Mining Systems, its West Milwaukee, Wisconsin plant manufactures mining shovels and various components (including gears). At the time, demand for mining equipment had been depressed for several years, and many workers were on layoff. Recently, Komatsu announced that it would move work to West Milwaukee from China.  Now comes the announcement that Komatsu is developing a new manufacturing plant in the Milwaukee Harbor area, immediate west of Jones Island. After clearing and environmental cleanup, the site will be ready for development sometime in 2019. The new site, which is expected to replace some or all of existing West Milwaukee plant operations, will significantly improve outbound logistics. At present, large components mov...

After work Friday, March 9, 2018, I caught BNSF and Union Pacific train movements. First, BNSF's M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) departed the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard with engines 2889 and 585 and 17 cars. Note Caterpillar D11 tractor and Komatsu truck chassis loads. Ahead of the local was an empty coal train, which was sitting on the main track waiting for dispatcher instructions. It was led by BNSF 5632 and 9793 with BNSF 6169 as Distributed Power Unit (DPU). When the empty coal train cleared Yates City (about half way to Galesburg), the dispatcher gave M-PEIGAL a "roll up track warrant" to Yates City.  Union Pacific's MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) was preparing for departure. I shot it at W. Farmington Road between the empty coal train and last scene of M-PEIGAL seen in the BNSF video. Union Pacific locomotives 4963 and 8350 pull 48 cars. - David P. Jordan