Unknown to me, lower priority trains have recently started running from Global 4 to west coast ports via Bloomington, Springfield, and St. Louis as coal traffic is down. Seen here is an example of one of those trains. Here the UP KG4LB 29 departs the newly created CP Morean in Nilwood, IL after being overtaken by Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle.
For those that do not know, Union Pacific has recently made the stretch of track from Virden, IL to Nilwood, IL double main thus eliminating the siding at Girard, IL. Also in this project, UP made the diamond at Girard, IL into a crossover. It was a big project that lasted for the better part of a year. CP Morean is the southern control point for this double main. This train as well as a few other trains have recently switched from running across the BNSF Chillicothe/Marceline subdivisions (or BNSF Transcon) to running via St. Louis, MO all on Union Pacific owned railroad. A cheaper option for sure.
