Peoria Station

Before I left the downtown library late this afternoon, I found out that Iowa Interstate's PESI had been seen at Chillicothe around 1730 hours. I decided to head north, and caught up with it north of Sparland. Short train.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls through Henry, Illinois early evening Wednesday, August 28, 2024. IAIS 512 and IAIS 716 have 36 cars.     Two other other items of interest at Henry:    (1) The siding on the south end is filled with loaded plastic pellet cars. (2) MexiChem Specialty Resins has been re-branded "Orbia Polymer Solutions." Orbia is MexiChem's parent.    - David P. Jordan

I had a meeting after work this afternoon, but as it did not last too long, I headed to W. Farmington Road, noted the green signal indication for a northbound, turned around and parked. Mere moments later, Union Pacific's MPECL activated the gates and I got my video! CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Peoria, Illinois mid-afternoon Tuesday, August 27, 2024. UP 8841 has 31 cars.   - David P. Jordan

I did not have to wait for very long this afternoon for my most frequent encounter. Short train today, but that is okay.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) rolls by W. Farmington Road shortly after departing Adams Street Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, August 23, 2024. UP 8841 has 28 cars. UPDATE: While at the downtown library this afternoon, I learned that an eastbound TP&W road freight was approaching Washington. Given the speed restriction to Cruger, I figured I could get ahead of it, which I did.  CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EPEF (Manifest, E. Peoria IL to Effner IL) rolls by Cruger, Illinois early-evening Friday, August 23, 2024. HESR 3485, IORY 5013, TPW 5010 and TPW 3440 have 44 cars. - David P. Jordan

Around noon, I learned that a westbound TP&W road freight was seen just east of Chenoa. I knew that unless it switched an industry or two enroute, I was not going to see it after work.  I was going into town anyway, so I drove Rt. 150 and noticed the train stopped on the opposite end of the TP&W's East Peoria Yard.   I found the crew ready to shove eight limestone loads into East Peoria Materials/The Rogers Group. So I hoped to catch it pulling the other 66 cars into the yard. Sure enough, they did. The lighting was not good, but I had not seen this train since April 4, so I am not complaining.  CAPTION: Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway train M-EFEP (Manifest, Effner IL to E. Peoria IL) drops eight limestone loads at East Peoria Materials/The Rogers Group and then leaves engine lite at East Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Shortly, IORY 5014, TPW 5008, CFE 3316, TPW 5015 and TPW 2105 pull the remaining 66 cars into the yard. ...

Union Pacific's MPECL left early this afternoon, and I could not find or catch it. I did, however, see Iowa Interstate's SIPE arrive Peoria later, shooting the scene below at the North Limit Yard, a joint facility with the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) rolls into the North Limit Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Tuesday, August 20, 2024. IAIS 514 and IAIS 718 have 97 cars (11 potash, 83 grain mash, three alcohol empties). - David P. Jordan

Sunday can be a good day for local railfanning, especially for variety. I managed to capture four local movements, one of which I had never seen before!   I went to check the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard after learning that the Iowa Interstate brought in an SIPE train and a new crew would take PESI north shortly. Turns out I had time to capture a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad "Powerton Turn" (not sure if a regular job or extra) depart through Wesley as PESI was moving. Note the northbound leg of the Powerton Turn was actually the last movement of the day for me.) CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Powerton Turn (handled by a regular crew or extra job) departs the East Peoria Yard midday Sunday, August 18, 2024 with interchange business for the Illinois & Midland Railroad at Powerton Yard near Pekin. TPW 3443 and IORY 5014 have 78 cars. By mid-afternoon, the turn is shown on the Illinois & Midland RR mainline at Pekin on its re...

This morning, not long after I woke up, I received a heads up that BNSF's M-GALPEI was getting close to Peoria.  The regular train ran (along with M-PEIGAL) on Thursday afternoon/evening, so this would be a THIRD cycle for the week.  This seems to have become a regular occurrence on Saturdays, though I'm unsure if it is due to seasonal volume (TP&W-bound nitrogen fertilizer solution traffic is in its heavy season again) or if BNSF has decided to make three weekly cycles year-round. I assume the former, but wish for the latter... CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-GALPEI (Manifest, Galesburg IL to Peoria IL) rolls through Pottstown, Illinois late-morning Saturday, August 17, 2024. Later, the train approaches yard limits at Peoria, and then enters the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad for the trip across the river to the East Peoria Yard. BNSF 6503 and BNSF 8372 have 40 cars. The regular M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL flip ran Thursday, so this one is a third cycle for the week!   I re...