Peoria Station

David P. Jordan's Peoria IL transportation blog

Entries from August 2009

RI Trail No Help to Toulon

August 29th, 2009 · 9 Comments

In Friday’s Journal Star: “‘How bad does the community want a grocery store?’ That was the bottom-line question Tuesday night at a town meeting in Toulon. The Stark County seat’s only grocery store closed recently after an Elmwood man who had operated it rent-free for nearly two years concluded he still couldn’t make a profit.” [...]

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Tags: Recreational Trails

Trail Nut Graffiti

August 25th, 2009 · 3 Comments

 PEORIA -  At least one trail proponent has made his position known, using the hood of a Central Illinois Railroad Company locomotive to spell out, “Jobless Yet? Build the Rec trail!!” Note “B. S.” above…I couldn’t agree more. – David P. Jordan

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Tags: Kellar Branch · Railroads

Springfield Zaniness

August 22nd, 2009 · 16 Comments

This is a Peoria blog, but sometimes I write about transportation issues in other cities. Often, the railroad industry’s image is distorted by grand-standing politicians and a public easily aroused by sensationalized media coverage. My previous post explained how in Springfield, misinformation has whipped up a public frenzy against high-speed rail and an increase in the number of freight trains. I [...]

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Tags: Amtrak · Railroads

Springfield Media Whips Up Frenzy Over Increased Train Traffic

August 18th, 2009 · 3 Comments

  A Union Pacific freight train nears E. Carpenter Street in Springfield on February 7, 2009. The track on which it is running was extensively upgraded in 2008.   For the past month, Springfield’s State Journal-Register has printed several stories about the Union Pacific Railroad’s plans to increase train traffic through town and plans for faster passenger trains. First, [...]

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Tags: Railroads

Peoria Area Rail Users – Mapped!

August 15th, 2009 · No Comments

  Click the map and see where area rail users are located! There area other area rail users, but this map represents the core. Give me feedback. 1. ADM Grain Co. – Creve Coeur Barge Dock 2. ADM Grain Co. – Creve Coeur Elevator 3. ADM Grain Co. – Peoria Elevator 4. AGRI-Bunge, LLC 5. [...]

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Tags: Manufacturing and Industry · Railroads

Coming Soon!

August 14th, 2009 · No Comments

I haven’t had time to blog lately. That should change shortly. I will be posting a Peoria metro map showing area rail lines and customer locations. I’m also planning a post on the area’s last big railroad-spurred economic development initiative – TP&W’s five-zone industrial land sales from the mid-1950s through the 1970s. The Mapleton industrial [...]

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Tags: Miscellaneous

BNSF Revives Dormant Branchline

August 7th, 2009 · 4 Comments

Empty BNSF coal train creeps through Lewistown at dusk on August 5, 2009. The same train ran arrived loaded on the Keokuk Junction Railway but was first to utilize the rehabilitated branchline in more than three years. BNSF Railway has revived the southern half of its Yates City – Vermont line after securing a contract [...]

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Tags: Railroads

Allegiant Air Maintains Schedules This Summer

August 7th, 2009 · No Comments

PEORIA – Allegiant Air offers Peoria air travelers nonstop service top Las Vegas, Phoenix-Mesa and St.Petersburg/Clearwater. Current schedules show Las Vegas flights being offered daily except Tuesday and Friday. Service to Phoenix-Mesa is shown as being offered on Monday and Friday. St. Petersburg/Clearwater flights are also offered twice weekly, on  Tuesday and Saturday. And unlike [...]

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Tags: Aviation

PJStar reports Delta cut today; I reported it June 30

August 3rd, 2009 · 2 Comments

PEORIA – Atlantic Southeast Airlines dba Delta Connection is ending its Peoria – Atlanta route on September 1. If that sounds like old news, it’s because I first reported it here, last June 30. Looking at the calendar, it says August 3, which means my initial report of Delta’s flight cut occured more than ONE MONTH ago. But [...]

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Tags: Aviation