Peoria Station

After work, I usually head to downtown library, but I did not make it on Friday afternoon because there were too many trains.    I just barely caught the Keokuk Junction Railway's local operating an East Peoria turn. I shot it the last place I could - the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River bridge.    CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's weekly East Peoria turn is shown in both directions on Friday afternoon, October 24, 2025. LTEX 6437, LTEX 3837 and LTEX 3836 have 17 cars for interchange with connections via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad. LTEX 3836, LTEX 3837 and LTEX 6437 left East Peoria with 14 cars. Driving the Cedar Street Bridge into Peoria, I saw the Keokuk Junction Railway local entering the Bridge Junction wye at Sanger Street, but also a distant headlight that was clearly a BNSF train. My hopes were fulfilled when I reached Darst Street to find a short M-GALPEI ready to follow the Keokuk Junction Railway across the river.  ...

After I left the downtown library, I checked to see if BNSF's M-PEIGAL was in the East Peoria Yard, but could not find it. I did notice a headlight down toward Iowa Junction so I circled back via I-474 and found a couple of orange geeps on the point of a covered hopper train waiting at Kickapoo Yard (with the train stretched into Bartonville). Shortly, the crew asked for permission from Iowa Junction to the East Lead.   The first 28 cars are probably phosphate empties returning to Florida via TP&W and CSX. The 26 loads are some kind of dry bulk fertilizer, possibly urea. These could be going to the Iowa Interstate, TP&W or both.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Lead 2 rolls by Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois early evening Friday, August 15, 2025. TPW 5010 and IMRR 2108 have 54 cars (28 empties/26 loads). Dry fertilizer loads and empties were pulled from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC, located south of Bartonville.   - David P. Jordan

I knew it was coming, so after work I drove I-74, exited to NE Adams Street/Rt. 29 and encounted DAVPE in The Narrows. I'd have to settle for 10mph speeds through Peoria, so I set up at the Fairholm Avenue crossing, the same area as yesterday's PESI.    I expect the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad will deliver this train to Mosaic Crop Nutrition sometime on Thursday.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL) rolls across Fairholm Ave. in Peoria, Illinois shortly after entering Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property. IAIS 151 and IAIS 502 have 104 potash loads.  - David P. Jordan

I usually try to capture the longer trains somewhere in 25-mph territory, but learned of this one too late. I found it at the North Limit Yard after setting out a GP38-2 (711) and some gondolas and tank cars before heading to Main 2 on the Pekin double track along Wesley Road. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad will deliver it to Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC south of Bartonville.    CAPTION: Iowa Interstate potash train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL) rolls by the Fairholm Avenue crossing in Peoria, Illinois after setting out IAIS 711 and some manifest cars at the North Limit Yard late-afternoon Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Later, the train is shown in downtown Peoria. Finally, the whole train passes the BioUrja Renewables LLC distillery. IAIS 150 and IAIS 504 were on the point. - David P. Jordan

I had to work today so I missed a meet between two Iowa Interstate trains. A northbound, PEDAV, was handled by a TZPR crew from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC and handed off to the Iowa Interstate crew at the North Limit Yard. A manifest, SIPE, was coming out of Silvis.  I believe they met at the siding south of Henry.    I did get SIPE. Today's train included a Norfolk Southern geep moving out of Des Moines to Decatur for its 92-day inspection. I'm surprised IAIS 712 wasn't set out at Bureau Junction. Perhaps the next PESI set it out there? It will definitely run sometime on Sunday.    Today's train had potash and mash and/or feed pellet loads and empty gondolas and tank cars. A block of covered hoppers on the head end ahead of the potash cars appeared empty.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Saturday, February 15, 2025. Three scenes on Tazewell & Peoria Railroad proper...

Run-through IAIS power on P&PU/TZPR dates to the late-1980s. In fact, a first, vague memory of IAIS power was in downtown Peoria in 1989. I saw a geep on the riverfront line from one of the intersections at SW Washington Street. I probably knew about the IAIS already due to the June 1989 "Regionals in Review" TRAINS article. CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew runs a train of potash empties through Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, December 28, 2024. Train came out of Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC south of Bartonville and was handed off to the Iowa Interstate Railroad at the North Limit Yard. Shown between S. Darst Street and Krause Avenue, IAIS 707 and IAIS 718 have 105 cars.    The usual Friday run of MPECL was annulled, probably due to crew issues. It seems that either the LPD01 local crew or MPECL's crew assisted with CGMBV's attack up Pioneer Hill. After that, an empty grain from for TP&W moved from Edelstein to the Low Line and park...

I made a haul today.    I was planning on going to the Monticello Railway Museum's book, model and paper items sale early, but received word that Iowa Interstate train PESI had received a track warrant to head north from Peoria.    So I went after it.    I caught it just before Rome, where I parked and shot video of its passage.  CAPTION:   Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls by Rome, Illinois late-morning Saturday, July 20, 2024. IAIS 518 and IAIS 151 have 76 cars.   I also knew that a Tazewell & Peoria RR crew was hauling the potash train Iowa Interstate potash train from Friday evening along the Kickapoo Main (Southern Division), which was in the opposite direction. Good thing for Rt. 6 and I-474, because I made it to Mendenhall Road, the TZPR potash train stopped short of the Union Pacific mainline connection waiting for passage of a Powerton-bound coal train.  CAPTION: A Union Pacific ...

Early this evening, I received a heads up that an Iowa Interstate potash train was making its way toward Peoria.  Naturally, I went after it.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL) rolls through Mossville, Illinois early evening Friday, July 19, 2024. IAIS 518 and IAIS 151 have 105 potash loads for Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC via the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad.   - David P. Jordan

One of the few things left to draw fans to the Peoria railscene is a switching and terminal line which rosters end cab switchers. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad put two of its own and one from sister Illinois & Midland Railroad on the point of an Iowa Interstate unit potash train this morning for the trip across the river and then down to Mosaic Crop Nutrition.  I didn't stick around to see it, but I know the units returned to East Peoria engine lite.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad unit potash train rolls by Mendenhall Road just south of Bartonville, Illinois shortly after entering the Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision to reach Mosaic Crop Nutrition midday Saturday, June 22, 2024. TZPR 1351, IMRR 43 and TZPR 1521 were on the point. Train arrived the area as the Iowa Interstate Railroad's DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IL).   David P. Jordan

I had seen social media reports that the train left Silvis this morning, so when I learned it was on the Bureau-Peoria line, I figured I had a chance of getting it in the San Koty Area. Sure enough, as soon as I drove by my favorite spot there, I saw the headlights... While it appears that the Iowa Interstate cycles three trains each way between Silvis and Peoria weekly, one of these may be a potash train.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad train DAVPE (Davenport IA to Peoria IA) rolls by the San Koty Station area (MP 154.2) near Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Sunday, November 26, 2023. IAIS 505 and IAIS 716 have 105 potash loads for Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC via Tazewell & Peoria Railroad delivery switch. David P. Jordan

The time changed and I woke up earlier than usual Sunday morning, which was fortunate, because I learned that BNSF's M-GALPEI was enroute. I only needed to wait at W. Farmington Road for a few minutes before it showed up. Later, I shot it crossing Krause Avenue on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL), running a day early, rolls by W. Farmington Road near Peoria, Illinois late-morning Sunday, November 5, 2023. Later, the train enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street to reach the East Peoria Yard. BNSF 8031 and BNSF 7837 have 52 cars (26 loads, 26 empties).   In between the BNSF scenes, I saw a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local bound for Mosaic Crop Nutrition with what I assume to be potash loads.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local rolls by Krause Avenue in Peoria, Illinois late-morning Sunday, November 5, 2023. Enroute from East Peoria to Mosaic Crop Nutrition...

Something about cloud banks or overcast and Iowa Interstate trains! At least it wasn't raining... Big train today, and likely the first in three days. I saw a Tazewell & Peoria RR crew switching those six steel coil loads Monday afternoon and wondered if they were going to shove them into the rear of the waiting PESI! They had just come in on Norfolk Southern local D49. The four incobrasa cars must have been bad-ordered on TZPR, repaired and are now moving to destination for loading. Grain alcohol shipments seemed to have increased in recent months. CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and across Persimmon Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, August 3, 2023. IAIS 501 has NS 5823 and 124 cars. Most cars are distillers' grain ("mash") empties, as usual, but steel coil and alcohol loads, Incobrasa covered hoppers and a high-sided gondola offer some variety.   Rather tha...

I caught the Union Pacific freight as I usually do on Tuesday after work. Usual traffic, but at least a decent-sized train of 60 cars from IMRR (via TZPR), KJRY, TP&W and TZPR itself.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls across W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, July 25, 2023. UP 7432 has 60 cars.   I knew the CN local was reported at Hilliards around the time I saw the UP freight, so I headed that way, and down Rt. 29 where I passed the local. I set up by the old C&IM depot at Pekin for video. The train came by a short time later. The two RISX-marked covered hoppers are curious, but I were empty so I doubt they had anything to do to with Waelz Sustainable Products plant at Clymers, Indiana. Cars displaying these markings are among those regularly routed TPW-Peoria-UP from that plant.  I should also note that this train had an empty sodium hydroxide solution ...

This may have been the first PESI since before the July 4 holiday.  When I went to Bloomington/Normal July 4 to see ALS 2204 lead Union Pacific MBNAS, I noticed Norfolk Southern D32 sitting in Good Yard unclassified. There were probably nine coil steel loads embedded in the short consist. I would bet that these arrived TZPR on Wednesday and seven of these are only now moving towards the consignee in Perry, Iowa via transload at Altoona. The number of empty grain mash cars would make up two PESIs!  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) is shown crossing the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge shortly after leaving East Peoria, Illinois mid-day Saturday, July 8, 2023. IAIS 513 leads NS 5242 and 124 cars. Later, the train crawls by the new (1967) Rock Island depot at Morton Street, and finally, rolls along home rails at San Koty. At the North Limit Yard, the crew moved the first covered hopper ahead of the steel coil loads. ...

Here's action representing the three shortlines which make up Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Central Illinois Empire in one video. Early this evening, Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew went east engine lite to fetch 15 cars from the TP&W's East Peoria Yard I shot this video at N. Main Street in East Peoria as the train was running on TP&W's Peoria Sub mainline. This is the location of "P&PU Junction," which you will hear discussed as a control point between dispatchers and train crews. So we have a TZPR train running on TP&W track using IMRR power!  The first eight cars are loaded, and as the first displays MOCX (Mosaic Crop Nutrition) markings, I'd guess these contained dry bulk fertilizer (phosphate, urea, etc.) bound for BNSF or Iowa Interstate.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew pulls a transfer from TP&W to their home terminal early evening Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Shown running on TP&W's Peoria Sub mainline at Ea...

The next Iowa Interstate PEDAV, probably sometime on Sunday... I saw these units running engine lite down the Kickapoo Main at Bartonville a little after 1310 hours. I went back about two hours later to find them dragging an empty potash train from Mosaic toward Wesley, across the river.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew dragged an empty potash train from Mosaic Crop Nutrition (south of Bartonville) to Main 2 on the Pekin double track mid-afternoon Saturday, February 18, 2023. Seen rolling by Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois, TZPR 1352 and IMRR 43 were on the point. - David P. Jordan 

Iowa Interstate SD38-2 No. 152, one of four such units on that carrier's roster, was used by a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad crew late-morning and early afternoon Saturday, October 8, 2022 to fetch an empty potash train from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC's facility south of Bartonville.  I only caught it because the train had to stop at Wesley due to an issue with a switch. Lighting wasn't great and the location isn't my favorite but I shot video of this relatively rare use by TZPR of Iowa Interstate power.  - David P. Jordan