Peoria Station

I just came across a publication at my local library called Choose Greater PEORIA Illinois , produced by livability dot com. On page 23, a community profile lists "transportation assets," which include two items which caught my eye- Five Class 1 railroads for hauling cargo Six short line railroads Both are incorrect. Greater Peoria, a designation that based on the magazine's other content matches the five-county official metropolitan area, is served by four Class Is, one Regional and four shortlines.  American common-carrier railroads are designated as Class I, Class II ("Regional") and Class III ("Shortlines"). These are broken down using annual revenue by the then-Interstate Commerce Commission critieria introduced in 1992 - $504,803,294 minimum for Class Is and $40,384,263 minimum for Class IIs. Carriers with annual revenue below the Class II minimum standard are designated as Class IIIs.  The Class Is are BNSF Railway, Canadian National Railway, No...

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...

Patriot Rail's acquisition of Pioneer Lines is already producing fruit! In a letter dated May 17, 2022, M. S. Carver Lumber president Joseph Fontana wrote the Surface Transportation Board requesting a legal change to Pioneer Industrial Railway's lease with the City of Peoria of 3.74 miles between a connection with Union Pacific and Pioneer Industrial Park. There seems to have been a delay in action by Pioneer Industrial Railway but both a 56-page Notice of Exemption and an eight-page Motion for Protective Order were filed with the STB on October 3. The Board granted PIRY's request today. You can read the filings here . Today's decision can be read here . I suspect rising diesel fuel prices may have been a factor in Carver's desire to rail service restored to its Pioneer Park facility. Lack of competitive access notwithstanding, direct rail delivery is cheaper than truck, even if a short distance from a wholesaler or transload site. UPDATE: On page 47 of the main Oc...

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...

Union Pacific apparently delivered six covered hoppers to Pioneer Junction sometime Thursday. I only learned of this minutes ago, so I intend to confirm this activity sometime on Saturday morning. Since November 2016, Pioneer Industrial Railway has had a locomotive on the City of Peoria-owned track, but with no activity. The locomotive itself may be inoperable. UPDATE: The six covered hoppers are still sitting where UP left them on Thursday. Photo taken this morning, June 9, 2018. Five of the cars have AEX (The Andersons) markings while the other, CRDX 15679, belongs to Chicago Freight Car Leasing Company. All six covered hoppers are of the grain/grain product service type, and their appearance suggests they're nearing retirement. Pioneer needn't move the cars to begin collecting storage car revenue, but if more show up, PREX 2032 will have to be repaired/fired up to pull them into the park and then probably shove them north toward the end of track (near Route 6). ...

I finally had a chance to create the third and final part of my Pioneer Industrial Railway documentary.  I intended to create this in April, but didn't have time due to a Florida trip and adjusting to a job change. As with the other two, I provide narration over photos and video. Part I Part II - David P. Jordan

As it turns out, I had sufficient material for far more than I expected. This will be the second of a three-part documentary, which covers more of the Central Illinois Railroad Co's Peoria Division than Pioneer. You've already seen the video, but most of the stills you haven't. Looking for feedback. Part 3 will be posted when I have time to create it. - David P. Jordan

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...