Peoria Station

   TP&W Extra 3830 West hauls 61-car circus train past Grainland Co-Op elevator at Cruger on May 27, 2009.

The Toledo Peoria & Western Railway received from Norfolk Southern at Logansport, Indiana early this morning Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ Blue Train.

Through the morning and into the afternoon, TP&W pulled the train across the Indiana and Illinois countryside, passing through towns such as Monticello, Remington and Kentland, Indiana and Watseka, Gilman, Chenoa, El Paso, Eureka and Washington in Illinois.

Unlike the last time the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town, the train is being stored in the TP&W’s East Peoria Yard during the performances. That last time – September 2003 – the circus train was brought into town on BNSF’s Galesburg – Peoria line and staged for unloading in that railroad’s small yard located under the Cedar Street Bridge. But that yard’s tracks have suffered from deferred maintenance for years and are currently out of service. Furthermore, an October 2005 derailment severed BNSF’s only direct connection to its old Peoria yard (it can still be reached via the Tazewell & Peoria RR).

Circus train arrives TP&W’s East Peoria Yard about 2:30pm on May 27. In short time, the two locomotives and first four cars (containing horses and elephants) were tied down under the bridge so the rest of the train could be pulled by a yard engine then spotted for unloading.

It’s great to see a popular attraction such as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus come to Peoria. Even better is that the circus arrives by train. And if you wanna go see one the shows this weekend, you can order tickets here.

- David P. Jordan