Peoria Station

Early Sunday afternoon, I learned that the TP&W was handling a grain extra out of Chenoa for Union Pacific at Peoria. This was the second train in as many days, one had been pulled from Grainland Farmers' Cruger elevator on Saturday. I did not see it, but understand it was also delivered to Union Pacific at Adams Street Yard. Apparently, the two carriers have decided to shift their interchange point for grain trains from Crescent/Powerton near Pekin or the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's double track mainline to Adams Street Yard/Low Line in Peoria. Saturday's Cruger train is reportedly bound for Mexico via Eagle Pass, Texas, and Sunday's Chenoa train is probably going to Mexico as well.  CAPTION: The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway ran this grain extra from Prairie Central Coop's Greenfield (Chenoa), Illinois rail loop Sunday afternoon, October 4, 2026. UP 5731, UP 8785 and UP 5640 were on the point of 115 loads. Train is shown at Cruger, Washington, Ea...

When I left work at 3:00pm Tuesday afternoon, I learned that Union Pacific's MPECL had left Adams Street Yard later than usual, and was reported at Harmon Highway (Rt. 116) on Peoria's southwest side about 30 minutes earlier. I debated whether to try and catch it. I had left my camera in the car just in case.   Given the time it would take to get to the Union Pacific's Peoria Sub due to traffic and construction, I told myself "no" and went home. Minutes later, I learned the train had paused at W. Farmington Road due to an issue with the twelfth car dropping its air and went for it... CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) is shown south and again north of Camp Grove, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, September 29, 2026. NS 7613, UP 5726 and UP 2742 have 88 cars. Slower-than-usual speed may be due to a rough-riding gondola in the block of 35 maintenance-of-way cars on the rear. - David P. Jordan

Co-habitating before they can even set a wedding date! NS 7614 leads UP 5726 and 35 cars for Peoria late Tuesday afternoon on MCLPE. This train seems to have been running earlier for the past month. Used to be called late-evening at Clinton, Iowa on Sundays and Wednesdays, and arrive Peoria sometime before the LDP01 job went on duty at 0800. Seeing these trains in the afternoon and evening on Sundays and Wednesdays indicates a much earlier call time, likely late-morning.  CAPTION: Union Pacific MCLPE (Manifest, Clinton IA to Peoria IL) rolls by Milepost 80, the old Molitor Junction, in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, September 16, 2026. NS 7613 and UP 5726 have 35 cars for Adams Street Yard where the train will be shortly The old Milwaukee Road bicentennial unit is cool. Even better, it visited Peoria! I was asleep when it arrived the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, probably early this morning, on Norfolk Southern's now-nocturnal D49 local. But go...

A late departure enabled me to capture MPECL after work Tuesday, just like the good old days before November 2024... This train had 28 empty covered hoppers on the head end that are of the type used for trona shipments to NRG Energy's Powerton Station.  Behind these were six loaded corn syrup tank cars, and nine more further back. These are almost certainly from the Keokuk Junction Railway-served Roquette America's Keokuk, Iowa wet corn refinery. If so, routing is KJRY-UP.  I don't think I've seen that many loaded corn syrup tank cars on MPECL since winter 2022 when Roquette shifted business temporarily to KJRY-UP when BNSF was threatened with a labor strike.  CAPTION: Union Pacific MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Later, the train crests Pioneer Hill on Peoria's northwest side. UP 5726 has 71 cars. - David P. Jordan

List, It is always good to see one of the local G&W shortlines working. This job crossed the river with empty tank cars for BioUrja and BNSF's M-GALPEI waited its turn to cross the river.  CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 4" crosses the Illinois River into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, September 9, 2026. TPW 2105 has ten cars for the West Yard. I was surprised to see BNSF run an M-GALPEI on Wednesday when it ran (and flipped back as M-PEIGAL) on Tuesday. Tuesday's train would have run Monday if not for the Labor Day holiday. I'm not complaining though. Maintaining frequency is a good thing...  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls by Pottstown, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Later, the train is shown on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad near Bridge Junction enroute to East Peoria. BNSF 7825 and BNSF 6871 have 22 cars. I learned that an empty Union Pacifi...

After work today, I planning to check out Bartlett Grain Co's recently-completed "El Camino" (Sheffield) elevator on Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision, but when I saw the green signal indication for a southbound at Edelstein, I decided to follow the line closely in hopes of catching a train movement.  Tall corn can obstruct trains where there are no parallel roads, so my progress was slow. On Sundays and Wednesdays, there is always a possibility that MCLPE will run early, and this Wednesday it did. Turns out, had I gone to El Camino first thing, I would have gotten both, and in better lighting. Train consist is typical. Notables are four salt boxcars for TP&W and five corn syrup loads (one as first car, used as a buffer for an empty alcohol tank car) consigned to TZPR-served PMP Fermentation. A lone empty Ozinga (OZIX) 2-bay covered hopper indicates Union Pacific is getting some outbound cement materials (slag and coal ash) business. CAPTION: Union Pacific trai...

I caught this empty grain train slowing toward Christmas Tree Road at South Pekin, but which I had been able to capture it first just south of Allen Station at mainline speed. Oh well, I still got it on the lesser-used section of Union Pacific's Peoria Subdivision.  If I heard correctly on the symbol, I'd love to know what "HH" is. Must be in Iowa, or perhaps in Minnesota. The Dupo origin suggests a repositioning move.  CAPTION: A northbound Union Pacific train of grain empties, GSDUHH (Grain Shuttle, Dupo IL to Hope MN), slows toward a stop short of Christmas Tree Road at South Pekin, Illinois late-afternoon Saturday, August 8, 2026. Later, the train rolls along the mainline toward a crew at what is left of the Chicago & North Western Railway's South Pekin Yard. After the new crew is aboard and the dispatcher gave them track warrants to Nelson, the train rolls by Chester L Road. A little more than an hour later, shortly after 1900 hours, the train rolls by ...

For those wanting to see it, the locomotive and train is viewable from the east side of Union Pacific's Bloomington Yard. It will depart at 8:15 Saturday morning for Springfield, Girard and St. Louis.  CAPTION: Union Pacific's 1.2 million pound 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" steam locomotive pulls through Uptown Station at Normal, Illinois mid-afternoon Friday, July 17, 2026. Shortly, the train shoved into the Bloomington Yard where it will remain until Saturday morning. A bonus was AgRail LLC's rare SD18M, WIRX 1229, switching the elevator on the yard's west side. Behind UP 4014 were two extra tenders (UPP 809 and UPP 814), diesels UP 1616 and UP 1776, and a dozen cars. - David P. Jordan

For an unconfirmed reason, Union Pacific re-routed train MDMNL via the Peoria Subdivision today.    This train normally runs via via Kansas City. Lots of products of ethanol plants, wet corn mills and soybean processors in north Central Iowa and the Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern (RCPE) at Mankato, Minnesota. Cargill's plant at Fort Dodge, Iowa seems to be represented. Traffic from South Dakota Soybean Processors (probably the Volga, SD plant) and bentonite from Belle Fourche, SD on the RCPE are notable. The coil steel car (75th car) was loaded, though it is unclear where it orginated. There were four empty plastic pellet cars as well.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MDMNL (Manifest, Des Moines IA to N. Little Rock AR) rolls from a crew change at Chester L Road just north of South Pekin Yard on the Peoria Subdivision late-afternoon Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The train paused for a northbound empty grain train to get clear on South Pekin Siding and then departed. UP 8720-...

When I was in Bloomington-Normal Thursday evening, I noticed that D32 had brought in quite a few cars for TZPR and connections, including steel coils for IAIS and steel scrap for Liberty Steel & Wire. I figured they'd run D49 on Friday. But when I decided to head into East Peoria this morning, I was seconds from missing it. Driving US 150 from Morton, I noticed the tail end on TP&W's West End. Fortunately, I head a green light at E. Washington Street. I pulled into the left of two turn lanes at the N. Main Street intersection just in time to shoot a going away video. It took an hour for D49 to turn around and depart with the outbound. Midday lighting this time of year can be a challenge, but Carver Lane proved to be a good location.  Besides three steel coil loads for Iowa Interstate and 13 NS/WRWK gondolas that I believe contained scrap metal for Liberty Steel & Wire (I've seen TZPR locals handling these to and from Kickapoo Yard), there were two empty BNSF cov...

I ran some errands after work, but ended up hearing static on the Union Pacific Peoria Sub road channel (CH. 77 - 161.265), but could not make out any details. So I immediately made my way to W. Farmington Road. The green signal indication for a northbound prompted me to park. Minutes later, MPECL showed up. I guess it is still being called earlier (noon to 1:00pm) most days, but the train does sometimes run later.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, June 9, 2026. UP 3044 has 50 cars. - David P. Jordan

Based on Thursday's TZPR interchange receipt and what was already at Adams Street Yard (from KJRY and TP&W), I knew Union Pacific's MPECL would be decent-sized on Friday. I left work two hours early, and caught a rollby at the old Molitor Junction (MP 80). I then decided to head up I-474 and Rt. 6. Despite the glacial speeds due to construction activity, I actually beat MPECL by at least ten minutes! That lone rebuilt CM44AC was struggling with 80 cars as it crested the hill, but made it!  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by MP 80 shortly after leaving Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, June 5, 2026. Later, the train has conquered Pioneer Hill on the northwest side of town. UP 7284 has 80 cars. I missed it on Tuesday, but after chasing Union Pacific's MPECL, I encountered the Keokuk Junction Railway local Friday afternoon, capturing it in both directions. PREX 2003 and PREX 2035 are newly painted in...

Heard of a late East Peoria interchange run, so camera already in my car, I drove from work to here to capture it. Both ways it turns out. Short train to, but longer train from. The loaded OZIX twin-bay covered hopper on the returning train is interesting. There are several rail-served Chicagoland Ozinga facilities accessible to UP, and one UP-served facility at Milwaukee.  CAPTION: Union Pacific's LPD01 ("Peoria Wayfreight") is shown at Peoria, Illinois mid- to late-afternoon Thursday, June 4, 2026. UP 7284 delivered 13 cars to the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at East Peoria, and returned to Adams Street Yard with 52. Heard a northbound get warrants out of South Pekin. As soon as I arrived Cilco Lane, they were cleared to cross the Illinois River. It did not take long for them to show up. Probably bound for Rock River Lumber & Grain at Sterling. As soon as I returned to Peoria, LPD01 had clearance from East Peoria back to Adams Street Yard.  CAPTION: A northbound...

I took a half day from work, knowing Union Pacific's MPECL was going to be unusually big. Turns out, it wasn't called until mid-afternoon! At least I caught BNSF's inbound freight in advance. The 47-car consist included five empty flat cars on the head end (as opposed to the rear for better weight distribution (perhaps it doesn't matter so much on the Peoria Sub?), and ten more brand-new covered hoppers being delivered to Incobrasa Industries via TP&W.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) enters Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Peoria, Illinois shortly before crossing the river into East Peoria mid-afternoon Friday, May 22, 2026. Later, counterpart, M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road. BNSF 7722 and BNSF 9081 arrived with 47 cars and departed with 21. The Union Pacific crew had troubles with their locomotive. It kept dumping the air. Finally, they got going and even made it up Pioneer Hill d...

On a whim, I decided to head to Bloomington-Normal to catch Norfolk Southern's D36 train, which typically leaves Good Yard by late-afternoon or early evening. The EOT on the rear car was flashing when I arrived, so I knew it would depart shortly. I had time to check on Union Pacific's MBNAS. Normally, it would have left by now, but turns out it had just left the yard but was paused just to the south. I crossed the Springfield Sub at 6 Points Road and then heard the horn. I immediately turned around. With no time to park and set up, I just shot the train through my windshield. Better than nothing (or chasing it, and missing the NS train!) CAPTION: Union Pacific MBNAS (Manifest, Bloomington IL to Alton & Southern) rolls across 6 Points Road on Bloomington, Illinois' southwest side early evening Thursday, May 21, 2026. UP 2184 and UP 2205 have 37 cars. D36 forwards D49 traffic out of East Peoria to Bement (setout for an eastbound manifest) and Decatur (for classification)...

Not sure what is with CSXT units leading local freight trains, but I don't mind. Notably, CSXT 775 was involved in that near-collision April 2 in Bushnell Florida. It was leading the train that scraped the rear of a school bus after the bus driver decided to cross in front of it. She was fired and arrested for her stupidity.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Pekin mainline late-afternoon Tuesday, May 19, 2026. CSXT 775 and CN 3192 have 40 cars. CSX coil steel car is for Hanna Steel. Two FSR gondolas are loaded with scrap metal from KJRY-served Hitchcock Scrap Yard in Canton. Tuesday was one of those rare occasions that Union Pacific's MPECL is called late, and I can see it. I actually stumbled on it accidentally, and by chance got it after missing its departure. Consist is surprisingly short since Friday's train reportedly was made up of just 49 empty plastic pellet covere...

I had a heads up that Canadian National's L557 local was about to, or already had. left East Peoria, and decided to take Rt. 98 and then a left on Rt. 29. This was a good decision because the train had entered Pekin just ahead of me.  CAPTION: Canadian National Railway train L557 (Local, E. Peoria IL to Decatur IL) rolls enters home rails at IC Junction in downtown Pekin, Illinois late-afternoon Thursday, April 16, 2026. Steel coil and lumber loads, for Hanna Steel and Amerhart, respectively were "turned" at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard rather than being set out at Pekin (perhaps L556's crew was short on time?). CN 3192 has 37 cars.   I normally don't post UP Joliet/Springfield Sub action here, but something stood out with a possible local connection.    There were nine RISX covered hoppers on today's MBNAS (in groups of six and three). All empties. Those markings are familiar to me because similar RISX-marked cars are assig...

I caught the Keokuk Junction Railway local heading to and from East Peoria this afternoon and evening. I can't be 100% sure that all 19 tank cars (corn syrup loads, maybe a few contain sorbitol) are for Norfolk Southern, but if D49 runs Friday, they should be on it. The return run left East Peoria with a healthy 57 cars, though all were empty. Most were grain empties, presumably corn, from Alto's Pekin locations. A pressure differential covered hopper probably last contained corn starch. At least some of the ALAB cars may have last contained corn germ or corn screenings.  CAPTION: The Keokuk Junction Railway's local makes its "East Peoria turn" late-afternoon/early evening at Darst Street and Krause Avenue in Peoria, Illinois Thursday, April 9, 2026. LTEX 6437-3837-3010-3836 have 19 loads (all tank cars) for the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard. LTEX 3836-3010-3837-6437 return from East Peoria with 57 empty covered hoppers.   Although I u...

I saw posts on this and hesitated to come into town, figuring I'd be too late. Turns out, I came in time. I still must get used to seeing those empty salt boxcars on Union Pacific. Looks like loads are delivered directly to TP&W at Collier Yard and empties are received via TZPR. The four scrap metal loads and carbon dioxide refrigerated liquid tank car do not make regular appearances on these trains. As for the former, Alter Metal Recycling probably has excess scrap metal to ship to customers outside the area.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train LPD01 ("Peoria Wayfreight") eases to a stop at Darst Street late-afternoon Monday, March 30, 2026 so the conductor can detrain and line the switch before entering home rails. UP 7365 and UP 7006 have a healthy 50 cars (25 loads, 25 empties).   After the Union Pacific train crossed the river, TZPR's Industry 4 followed to run to the West Yard and switch BioUrja's Alcohol Tracks. I did not see this train, and I was waitin...

List, I went to Peoria via I-474 this afternoon and encountered two TZPR Industry Jobs heading back to East Peoria. Good thing Ozinga Cement Co. opened its barge-rail dock late last year, or today's train returning from Kickapoo Yard would have had but two cars!    The other, probably "Industry 1," has corn syrup empties from PMP Fermentation Products, alcohol loads and empties (the first with alcohol placards was empty, the others are possibly buffer cars) from BioUrja Renewables LLC and two Komatsu truck chassis loads. The first four cars, all tank cars, appear to be loads, and I assume the Iowa Interstate has recently left them at the North Limit Yard.  CAPTION: Two Tazewell & Peoria RR "Industry Jobs" roll across the Illinois River in quick succession enroute home mid-afternoon Friday, March 27, 2026. TZPR 1351, returning from Kickapoo Yard, has 14 cars for East Peoria. IMRR 43, returning from working the Uptown Subdivision, has 18 cars for East Peo...