Peoria Station

I learned that an empty BNSF feed pellet train had left Galesburg for Peoria in mid-afternoon so I left earlier than usual on Sunday evening.   Driving I-474 westbound just after crossing the river, I heard some radio chatter on the TZPR road frequency. I did not make out what was being said, but a quickly glance at a TZPR train ready to depart Kickapoo Yard prompted me to turn around and grab video. I was able to get it at Darst Street. Nothing groundbreaking behind the SW-1500 but the three loaded covered hoppers on the rear are likely dry fertilizer loads from Mosaic Crop Nutrition LLC in the Pekin Bottoms.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local enroute from Kickapoo Yard to East Peoria, is shown late-afternoon Sunday, March 8, 2026. IMRR 43 has nine cars.   After the TZPR local went by, I resumed my plan to intercept the empty BNSF feed train, but just missed it at W. Farmington Road and could not turn around in sufficient time to bag it before the bl...

Late Saturday morning, I learned that an eastbound BNSF train of ADM covered hoppers was seen at Maquon.  I intended to go into Peoria anyway, so I followed BNSF's Peoria Sub along Rt. 8 and encountered the approaching train well before Edwards. I turned around and waited for it at W. Farmington Road.  Although the high, mid-day summer sun is kind of an annoyance, I think the video turned out pretty well.  Train is bound for Decatur, Illinois via Canadian National. The crew might have a loaded grain train to take west. A TP&W crew ran it through Washington a little after 1:00 Saturday afternoon.  CAPTION:   BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly before arriving Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Saturday, July 6, 2024. BNSF 7370 and BNSF 5877 are on the point of 100 gluten feed empties.   David P. Jordan

When I swung by Adams Street Yard Tuesday afternoon, I could not confirm yet that a crew was aboard Union Pacific's MPECL. So I parked off Krause Ave. and waited. But BNSF had brought in an X-SMRPEI empty feed pellet train for Decatur (via Canadian National) and the crew radioed the dispatcher shortly after I arrived.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) has just entered the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, June 25, 2024. BNSF 6952 and BNSF 6614 were on the point. Gluten feed empties will move via Canadian National to ADM at Decatur, Illinois.   After grabbing video of the BNSF feed empties, the Union Pacific crew asked the dispatcher for instructions. A work train was moving north, so MPECL was given a track warrant to Pioneer in the interim. Tuesday's train was unusually short. The third unit, however, makes me think Monday's MCLPE must have been a big train.  CAPT...

One of these arrived Tuesday, only five days ago. The crew of today's X-SMRPEI told the TZPR St. Albans dispatcher that Galesburg wanted the power back. So as soon as they dropped the train at Pekin, both units went back west engine lite.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway X-SMRPEI train (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois mid-day Sunday, February 25, 2024. BNSF 4114 and BNSF 6608 have 96 gluten feed empties for interchange to Canadian National at the Pekin's double track south end.   David P. Jordan

I checked Adams Street Yard Tuesday afternoon to find Union Pacific's MPECL with its crew aboard ready to depart. it wasn't until after 4:00 until the crew radioed the dispatcher for instructions, and rolled north from Peoria Junction. A single unit had no problems with the short train.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by Milepost 80 shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, February 20, 2024. UP 6304 has 34 cars.   Later, an empty BNSF feed train showed up, which was a pleasant surprise. If I counted correctly, the train was short ten cars for an unknown reason.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summerfield TX to Peoria IL) rolls into Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, February 20, 2024. BNSF 5408 and BNSF 1043 (H1) have 90 Decatur-bound gluten feed empties for interchange to Canadian National.   David P. Jordan

Like last Tuesday, Union Pacific's MPECL left early, so I didn't see it. But I soon learned that Norfolk Southern's D49 local hadn't left East Peoria, so I investigated and was rewarded with a late-afternoon departure. Other than the two Caterpillar D9T loads (on 68' TZPR flats, which were designed for the D11), traffic was typical.  CAPTION: Norfolk Southern Railway train D49 is shown departing East Peoria, Illinois on its return leg to Good Yard at Normal late-afternoon Tuesday, October 10, 2023. NS 3410 and NS 3362 has 27 cars, including two Caterpillar D9T track-type tractors.   Earlier, I had received a brief video from a friend that an empty BNSF feed train (X-SMRPEI) had just departed Galesburg. After a failed attempt to capture D49 a second time, I headed west on I-74. Just as I crossed the tracks on W. Farmington Road, I saw the headlight to the northwest! I barel had time to park and set up for video.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway X-SMRPEI (Grain Empties, Summe...