“Ask Peoria Station”

November 22nd, 2009 · 22 Comments
Miscellaneous

I thought I’d try something new here. If anyone has a question related to Peoria area aviation or rail transportation, ask in the comments section of this post. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll do what I can to find it for you.

(Yes, more posts are coming).

- David P. Jordan

22 responses so far ↓

1 prego man // Nov 22, 2009 at 11:30 pm

Do the trains still go “whoo whoo!” and “chugga chugga chugga” all through the night; or did I just dream that stuff when I was a young’un?
2 Jason Myers // Nov 22, 2009 at 11:54 pm

Prego how many times did your mom drop you as a baby? The way you act I would say at least a couple times.
3 David P. Jordan // Nov 23, 2009 at 7:46 am

Prego,

You’re describing steam locomotives. U. S. railroads dieselized in the 1950s and the last mainline steam ran in 1960.
4 Sharon Deckard // Nov 23, 2009 at 10:27 am

Prego man you may make fun of the whoo whoo and the chugga chugga of the steam trains, but they were the heartbeat and breath of the nation. Anytime you stood next to a steam locomotive in a station you could hear the thump of her heartbeat and whoose of her breathing. Hear the squeal of the wheels as they grabbed the track pulling the load forward down the track. Whether it was freight or passengers it moved America and I for one miss those sounds and scents. So make all the fun you want many of us remember it totally different and we miss it.
5 SP // Nov 23, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Aviation – with the economy slow, do you see any additional service to Peoria in the next few years as the economy hopefully continues to recover? I know your blog about lost service stated that it will be ok, but with the new terminal and the international name, I would love to see service expand to the NE as in New York, West as in California and out of U.S. to Cancun???? What are your thoughts. Any additional Aviation thoughts are welcome….maybe like the airshow…looks like it will be July 23-25 and we will know soon (Dec. 7th and on) who will be some performers for the 26th year!!!!! Thanks in advance!
6 David P. Jordan // Nov 23, 2009 at 7:30 pm

SP,

I expect the key to getting additional air service (and restoring lost service – Atlanta, etc.) is when Caterpillar resumes its normal use of the local airport for business travel. That may coincide with the opening of the new terminal in late 2010 or early 2011, by which time I expect the national economy to be well into its recovery phase.

As far as service to New York, American Eagle and Northwest Airlink have provided medium-sized Midwestern communities such as Des Moines, Grand Rapids and Madison with nonstop service, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. (I’ve heard rumors that since at least 2001, the Greater Peoria Airport Authority has tried to woo American Eagle nonstops to New York La Guardia. Unfortunately, I can’t see it happening without some hefty incentives.)

If Peoria gets any West Coast service, it would be on Allegiant Air. They added Los Angeles in May, but not from any Illinois points. Perhaps that will change in the near future if fuels prices don’t skyrocket again.

Former airport director Ken Spirito mentioned that international service was possible when we get the new terminal. If Rockford can support twice-weekly Cancun nonstops during the winter months, then so can Peoria. I’d say weekly, winter season Cancun nonstops by Apple Vacations, and operated by Allegiant Air planes, would be the most likely international service to be offered from Peoria.

I’m thinking that the Prairie Air Show won’t attract a precision jet team for 2010, so it will be a smaller air show. I hope I’m wrong.
7 SP // Nov 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Thanks for your post! Regarding the air show, from what I am hearing you are correct. Now, they could pull off a shocker and somehow get the Angels, but if that is the case they will more likely have to move their date for them like in the past. Even without either the Birds/Angels, PAS is a great show! We should know something on or shortly after Dec. 7!
8 C. J. Summers // Nov 24, 2009 at 4:32 am

Did we really need a new airport terminal building, or was that just a waste of money?
9 David P. Jordan // Nov 24, 2009 at 11:32 am

CJ,

I favor the new terminal, and here’s why:

(1) The local airport has been quite conservative in their airport construction projects over the years. Moline opened a new terminal in 1985 ( with major expansion done in 2001), Rockford opened a new terminal in 1987, and Champaign-Urbana opened their’s in 1989. Bloomington-Normal replaced their much-expanded 30-year-old terminal with the present facility in 2001. But today, only Moline’s terminal sees the kind of air traffic to justify the expanded capacity. The GPAA could have gotten funding for a new terminal in the 1980s or 1990s, but back then chose to renovate and expand the present facility.

(2) The original building is now 50 years old. The concourse (gate area) is 39 years old, save for two extensions now a decade, or nearly a decade old.

(3) It was determined that necessary renovations to the existing building would cost nearly as much as a new one, and would cause major operational disruptions.

(4) Post 9-11 requirements for baggage screening equipment and expanded security checkpoints has crowded the existing terminal. The new terminal will provide room for these requirements without causing crowding conditions.

(5) The new terminal will actually be slightly smaller than the present one, but places ticketing and baggage claim facilities on the same level and will actually look larger since it lacks a basement. The building will be more efficient than the old.
10 SP // Nov 24, 2009 at 12:26 pm

I know my opinion doesn’t count here, but not only is the old one way outdated for today’s services, but if this airport wants to stay competitive with Rockford/Bloomington/Quad Cities then this is something that should help.
11 prego man // Nov 26, 2009 at 11:33 pm

Jason Myers, your mom dropped you several times on purpose. Going over several of your idiotic postings through the years, you are an a—— that I would love to meet, even in my advanced age, at a drinking establishment, preferably after 11 p.m. I’d knock you down with a couple good lefts, and kick your sorry — a few times more while you were on the ground.

You’re an absolute twerp… and maybe someday I will be given the opportunity to spread your sorry face onto the pavement.

Have a nice weekend.
12 Billy Dennis // Nov 27, 2009 at 2:39 am

Phil Luciano, you have GOT to stop posting comments after your fifth beer.
13 Alex Block // Nov 29, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Hey David,

I was wondering if you could dig some history up on rail useage in North Eastern Peoria County like Chillicothe Rome Edelstein and Mossville area. I love history esspecially rail history, and maybe current useage along Iowa Interstate and BNSF lines and weather they will ever allow passanger rail service back on either line to Chicago?
14 Alex Block // Nov 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm

Oh one more thing did the hippies get their way with the Kellar Branch line and the trial I work near the Pioneer Pky crossing and have no heard anything in the last several months
15 David P. Jordan // Nov 29, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Hi Alex,

There’s a lot of rail history in that locale so I’m not sure where to begin, but I’ll start with a build date for each railroad then add a few key events:

BNSF

The BNSF line was built by the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe in 1887-88 as an extension of the railroad from Kansas City to Chicago. The existing bridge spanning the Illinois River opened in 1931. Dieselization was completed in 1952.

The Santa Fe was a pioneer in the streamliner era, placing into service a streamlined, diesel-powered SUPER CHIEF on the Chicago-Los Angeles route in 1937 (a diesel-powered conventional train began a year earlier). THE CHIEF, EL CAPITAN and KANSAS CITYAN/CHICAGOAN were streamliners added in 1938. Other streamliners came in later years: the TEXAS CHIEF (1948), KANSAS CITY CHIEF (1950) and SAN FRANCISCO CHIEF (1954). The Santa Fe kept high passenger train service standards longer than most and joined Amtrak in 1971.

Sadly, Amtrak didn’t keep these standards and the railroad withdrew permission to use the CHIEF name, thus in 1974 the SUPER CHIEF became the SOUTHWEST LIMITED and the TEXAS CHIEF became the LONE STAR. Improved service standards allowed Amtrak to resume using the CHIEF moniker beginning in 1984. The SOUTHWEST CHIEF still runs, but the LONE STAR quit in 1979.

Santa Fe freight tonnage has changed over the years. For decades into the 1960s, multiple daily freights carried California and Arizona perishables eastward to Chicago and connections. Livestock traffic largely died by 1970. Petrochemical, grain and grain products boomed. Also, from the mid-1950s, the Santa Fe developed a healthy volume of piggyback business. A 1990 deal with J. B. Hunt significantly increased Santa Fe’s intermodal volume.

The BNSF merger significantly increased freight tonnage on Santa Fe’s Chillicothe Sub east fo the new (1996) Cameron Connection). Much freight previously routed to or from Chicago on BN lines shifted to the Santa Fe due to better connections on the latter. The number of intermodal trains increased as well. Following new truck industry rules that took effect in early 2004, intermodal volume boomed again. By then, the number of trains plying Santa Fe’s mainline through Chillicothe had doubled from levels seen a decade earlier.

Unfortunately, the Cameron Connection allowed Amtrak to reroute the SOUTHWEST CHIEF east of Galesburg onto the former BN Mendota Sub, ending passenger service on the Santa Fe east of Galesburg for the first time in 108 years (1888-1996).

IAIS

The Iowa Interstate line was built by the Chicago & Rock Island’s Peoria & Bureau Valley in 1854. Eventually, parent Chicago Rock Island & Pacific (”Pacific” from 1866 on) operated it under its own name. As the first railroad to serve Peoria, it had the advantage when developing freight and passenger business.

Streamlined PEORIA ROCKET service began in 1937. The JET ROCKET ran in 1956-1957, but mechanical issues and complaints from patrons brought back the conventional PEORIA ROCKET. Eventually, private auto and scheduled airline service took its toll and ROCKET service was cut in half in 1968. The remaining train, officially called THE PEORIAN lasted until the end of 1978.

The Rock Island began experiencing financial pressures by the early 1960s, and reported its last operating profit in 1964. A decision by the Interstate Commerce Commission on a proposed merger with Union Pacific was delayed eleven until 1974,a nd by that time, the Rock had become an ugly bride. UP walked away and the Rock entered bankrupty in 1975. The carrier continued to operate as it reorganized, but the end came in 1980. “Directed Service” by other railroads kept the line through Chillicothe active until October 1981.

In June 1987, the Iowa Interstate began operations down the Peoria Branch after being contracted to operate BF Goodrich’s Henry-Peoria line. The IAIS built business on the line over the years and even purchased the Henry-Peoria segment at the end of 2006 (it subleases the rest of the branch).

IAIS’s freight business is mostly grain, grain products, chemicals, sand and coal. Current operations usually mean the Bureau-based local train makes a trip down to Peoria on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving about midday. Coal trains and occasional grain trains may mean additional trains during the week. Sunday operations are reported as well.
16 David P. Jordan // Nov 29, 2009 at 4:50 pm

The trail proponents sort of got their way, but only because the railroads had to make an economic decision. Both carriers with operating rights on the Kellar Branch – Central Illinois Railroad Co. and Pioneer Industrial Railway Co. – have agreed to joint operation of both north and south ends of the line with the latter also getting rights on the so-called “western connection.” Pioneer will handle CIRY’s business under contract.
17 Alex Block // Nov 29, 2009 at 5:56 pm

Thanks for the info and quick responce Keep up the good work
18 David P. Jordan // Nov 29, 2009 at 8:31 pm

Thanks…regarding passenger service, I don’t expect either line to handle passenger trains any time in the near future. Combining the BNSF and IAIS would make the shortest route between Peoria and Chicago, but the BNSF doesn’t want passenger trains on that line and IAIS would require extensive upgrading and the construction of a connection at Chillicothe. Amtrak is studying at least two possible routes for Peoria service, and BNSF-IAIS likely isn’t one of them.
19 Jason Myers // Nov 30, 2009 at 12:00 am

Phil oh I mean Prego that gave me a good laugh. Now that I know you are a drunk ever heard of AA? You should really look into that.

Oh and that little rant about my posts that you were crying about. If you were not so drunk you would know that this post is like my third one on here and I didn’t start posting on here until just a few months ago.

The only fool here is you! Why don’t you get yourself another beer and belly up to the bar you drunk.

“Do the trains still go “whoo whoo!” and “chugga chugga chugga” all through the night; or did I just dream that stuff when I was a young’un?”

And you call me a a–! The only a– I see here is the drunk that makes posts like that one.
20 prego man // Dec 1, 2009 at 11:33 pm

Myers, you are an absolute fool. First, even if you never found any humor in my “whoo whoo” statements (which obviously you didn’t), you still should have been smart enough not to take them seriously. But, again, the catch phrase is “should have been smart enough.” And, I don’t give a rat’s arse about how long you’ve actually been posting here, or anywhere else… because it sure as h— seems like about twenty years or more.

You’re “literal” in your mind because you have a [deleted]. You take things so seriously because you can’t see past your own eyebrows; and you think you’re clever, which is very dangerous when you’re working through life with a tiny mind.

I’ll close out by saying that if you ever want to meet in the “real world,” without proper introductions, but with a strong chance of my laying your stupid mug out on the cracked concrete of Peoria, then let me know. Just leave your mommy at home so she doesn’t have to mop up your blood. I’d take great pleasure in splitting open your lip and your nose.

You’re a lost cause, Myers. You are a complete [deleted].
21 David P. Jordan // Dec 2, 2009 at 6:42 am

Ok guys,

No more fighting. I will delete any further negative posts.
22 Vonster // Jan 14, 2010 at 12:08 pm

Geez, Prego. Way to be a douchenozzle.