Peoria Station

I hope you’re not getting tired of this series. But a lot of this stuff has been forgotten. And that’s the reason for this particular post. Around the time of the new terminal’s ground-breaking, there was some talk of trying to get some international charter flights. A little-known fact in Peoria’s commercial airline history is that it [...]

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A trailer van with FedEx Multimodal markings is seen at left in the consist of an eastbound BNSF intermodal train near Edelstein, Illinois on January 29, 2011 For the past several years, one could see Federal Express (FedEx) semi-trailers being hauled by BNSF intermodal trains. They weren’t carrying any revenue business – but rather FedEx used rail [...]

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I debated whether to skip to 1984, 1985 or even 1986, but instead settled on October 1982. Why? Because I wanted to recount the rapid decline in the quality and frequency of Peoria’s airline service during 1981-1982, and to explain why it happened. Going from 46 weekday departures in June 1981 to just 19 in [...]

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A lot happened between Summer 1980 and Spring 1981, so this too will be long. Changes by airline summarized below: AIR ILLINOIS went ahead and started Peoria – Chicago-Midway flights on August 15, but service proved unsuccessful and all service (including St. Louis flights) ended September 27. BRITT AIRWAYS expanded its flight schedule on February [...]

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Peoria International Airport handled 511,513 passengers in 2010, up 3.6% over 2009, the Journal Star is reporting tonight. But Bloomington-Normal beat us by a wide margin. The Central Illinois Regional Airport handled a record 559,481 passengers during the same period, an increase of nearly 13% over 2009. MY TAKE: Peoria abdicated the throne of central Illinois airline [...]

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I’ve posted previous installments from 1958, 1969, 1971, 1977 – and two from 1979. Changes accelerated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, so this next one covers a period less than a year after the last. Suffice if to say, Peoria’s sudden boom in commuter airline service was unsustainable after Ozark Air Lines resumed [...]

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Allegiant Air will be making a lot of changes to days it operates its nonstops between Peoria and Las Vegas, Phoenix-Mesa and St. Petersburg/Clearwater during the next six months. Looking through the airline’s online schedules, I can deduct the following: LAS VEGAS flights are currently offered on Monday and Friday. In addition, Thursday flights will operate from February 24 [...]

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I need to note some recent changes since I posted my Freight Train Series articles last summer. Here’s a summary of each local railroad’s current mainline freight operations. BNSF RAILWAY – Shortline Toledo Peoria & Western Railway acts as “haulage agent” for BNSF carload freight between Galesburg and [East] Peoria, and presently operates between those two points [...]

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Sometime this weekend, I intend to post a profile of Peoria’s airline service from the summer of 1980. Until then, it’s time for another “Ask Peoria Station.” Like always, ask me about anything about commercial transportation. It doesn’t even have to be specific to the Peoria area. And as always, if I don’t know the [...]

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A lot happened in 1979, so this one will be long. The Greater Peoria Airport Authority supported airline deregulation due to their frustration over long, drawn out hearings before the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to obtain additional airlines and service. Continental Airlines, for example, filed for Peoria service back in June 1973, but did not [...]

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