PEORIA, Ill. — The Keokuk Junction Railway is closed after sustaining significant flood damage from torrential rains on July 3, with several washouts between New Philadelphia and Seville, Ill.
Repairs are being delayed because of the long July 4 holiday weekend, with area gravel pits closed until Monday. A 13-car train making a turn to Kolbe (Mapleton, Ill.) stopped short of the damaged track as crews watched the storm pass through, toppling trees and damaging track. The train, with GP20 No. 2003, F9B No. 1761, and FP9A No. 1750, is parked at New Philadelphia until repairs can be made.
The same storm brought trees down on stored and empty jumbo tank cars at Hollis Pass, north of Kolbe; on Friday, a crew from the railroad and a private contractor was working to remove the trees, but damage is not expected to be repaired and the track reopened until July 10.
— Updated July 7 at at 9:15 a.m. to correct reopening date.
