Peoria & Western Railway engineer Doug Henry leans from the cab of PREX 800, a GP8 that is on its first run helping the two FP9A's that have made this central Illinois railway a prime target for railfans looking to record covered wagons. With traffic up, the two F's have had problems stalling on hills, so the 800 has been sent over from Keokuk Junction to help keep the trains moving. The 800 is at Bridge Junction in Peoria, on its way into the former Peoria & Pekin Union Railway's yards across the Illinois River in Creve Couer. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad will send the Peoria & Western back home with a long train of interchange traffic this Tuesday night, Sept 30, 2008.
STEVE SMEDLEY PHOTO