Road 1 AAR 58 - 160.980 line to Ft Wayne) True? According to Jerry Pinkepank's article, "How The Belt Came To Be" from the October, 1966 issue of Trains Magazine, the Belt Railway of Chicago's history begins in early 1881 when Brown chartered what was then known as the Belt Division, Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad. And then we can use that as a way to really push.. The BRC has direct interchange with every railroad serving the Chicago rail hub. PTC installed; ex-PRLX 425 < HATX 425 < CSX 6620 < B&O GP40 4045 (S/N 38525, B/D 10/71), PTC installed; ex-HATX 430 < CSX 6628 < nee B&O GP40 4053 (S/N 38525, B/D 10/71), Ex-HATX 423 < CSX 6504 < nee B&O GP40 3688 (S/N 32648, B/D 11/66), Ex-GSWR 4026 < NS 1339 < nee N&W GP40 1339 (S/N 31879, B/D 4/66), Ex-FEC 406 < nee FEC GP40 2000 (S/N 36778, B/D 3/71), Ex-WC 3005 < GWWR 3005 < CMW 3005 < nee WP GP40 3522 (S/N 36783, B/D 8/70), Ex-CSX 6754 < SBD 6754 < SBD 1599 < nee SCL GP40 1599 (S/N 35900, B/D 5/70), Ex-FURX 8093 < nee BN SD40-2 8093 (s/n 786256-4, b/d 5/80), Ex-FURX 8119 < nee BN SD40-2 8119 (s/n 786256-30, b/d 6/80), Ex-FURX 7276 < nee BN SD40-2 7262 (s/n 726252-41, b/d 3/80), Ex-FURX 7255 < nee BN SD40-2 7255 (s/n 786252-20, b/d 2/80), Ex-LLPX SD40-3 4307 < BN 7308 < GATX 5086 < HLC 5086 < MP 3086 < nee SD40 MP 786, Ex-LLPX SD40-3 4304 < Ex-BN 7304 < GATX 5076 < HLC 5076 < MP 076 < nee SD40 MP 776, Ex-LLPX SD38-3 4308 < BN 7309 < GATX 5088 < HLC 5088 < MP 3088 < nee MP SD40 788, Sold to RELCO 3004 > AGCR 2; ex-LLPX SD38-3 4301 < BN 7301 < GATX 5072 < HLC 5072 < MP 3072 < nee MP SD40 772, Ex-LLPX SD38-3 4302 < BN 7300 < GATX 5070 < HLC 5070 < MP 3070 < nee MP SD40 770, Ex-LLPX SD38-3 4303 < BN 7303 < GATX 5075 < HLC 5075 < MP 3075 < nee MP SD40 775, Sold to RELCO 3001 > AGCR 1; ex-LLPX 4305 < BN 7305 < GATX 5077 < HLC 5077 < MP 3077 < nee MP SD40 777, Ex-LLPX SD38-2 6432 < EMDX 6432 < CR 0806 < CR 806 < CR 6248 < nee PC SD40 6248, Sold to Relco 3005; ex-LLPX SD38-2 6504 < VMV 8332 < CSX 8332 < SBD 8332 < nee L&N SD40 1257, Reblt as BRC Slug #572 < ex-Relco 3006 < EMDX 6506 < VMV 8355 < CSXT 8355 < SBD 8296 < nee CRR 3021, Ex-LLPX SD38-2 6502 < VMV 8327 < CSX 8327 < SBD 8327 < nee L&N SD40 1251, Rebuilt as a slug; unit was ex-Relco 3003 < EMDX 6500 < VMV 8301 < CSXT 8301 < SBD 1225 < nee L&N SD40 1225, SD38-3; sold to NRE; ex-LLPX SD38-2 6508 < VMV 8363 < CSX 8363 < SBD 8363 < nee C&O SD40 7504, Remote Control; ex-NS 5366-5367 < nee CR 8232-8233, Remote Control; ex-NS 5370 & 5375 < nee CR 8240 & 8247, Remote Control; ex-NS 5390 & 5392 < nee CR 8271 & 8277, Ex-UP SD40-2 4151 < nee MP/CE&I 3151 (s/n 73748-13, b/d 3/74), Ex-UP 9906 < UP 4157 < MP 3157 < nee MP/CE&I SD40-2 3157 (s/n 73748-19, b/d 3/74), Ex-BRC Slug #572 < ex-Relco 3006 < EMDX 6506 < VMV 8355 < CSXT 8355 < SBD 8296 < nee CRR 3021, Ex-Relco 3003 < EMDX 6500 < VMV 8301 < CSXT 8301 < SBD 1225 < nee L&N SD40 1225. 900 - Original Slide - Sacramento (#195547599758). Excellent item, secure packaging, prompt service. PD Belt Railway of Chicago 481 - Original Slide - Bedford Park, IL . Rebuilt from EMD SD9s in 1990. April 01, 2022. Over the years, it has become the largest . 16.8 87th Street 19.5 Pullman Jct. Belt Railway of Chicago Belt Railway of Chicago . Very happy with purchase and seller. Getting Here Andre Kristopans provided major revisions and updates to the roster in July 2015. Not only was the expected (for the t. Today, according to the railroad it is now 5 1/2 miles in length, covers 786 acres, and can classify "40 and 50 miles of train consists every 24 hours.". It remained a corporate entity until 1994. Since 1892, The Belt Railway Company of Chicago has been an integral part of railroad operations in the Chicagoland area and across the United States. Rick Johnson illustration The 21st-century Beast The Illinois Railway Museum attempted to purchase the engine in the early 1980s, but Gary refused this offer.[9]. Inevitably, distrust among them continued for years until the big carriers finally came to their senses in the 20th century. It was subsequently renamed the Belt Railway Company of Chicago and then proceeded to build its own line into South Chicago, which ended the need to operate over the C&WI. Belt Railway Company of Chicago is a small transportation company based in Chicago, IL with only 200 employees and an annual revenue of $71.0M. Yard AAR 69 - [citation needed]. Rebuilt from a UP Cow/Calf Set; Calf made into a Cow unit. Belt Railway of Chicago Goes Full Steam Ahead on Digital Transformation with BDO Digital. How about this one? Today, six of the seven Class I railroads still own the terminal line including CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, Union Pacific, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific. AAR 99 - 161.610 Rock Island District In short, the yardbest describes BRC's purpose which is to sort and classify inbound traffic and, if not terminating in the city, move it out of Chicago as quickly as possible. Alas, by 1990 the yard sat dangerously empty. All written content, photos, and videos copyright American-Rails.com (unless otherwise noted). Yard AAR 18 - 160.380 (Clearing Yard), Chicago Rail Link One such somebody is Roy Gelder, a 35-year industry veteran and former director of process improvement for The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, operator of Clearing Yard in Chicago, but technically Bedford Park, Ill. On this day, prior to his 2014 retirement, Gelder explains the key to operating a hump yard like Clearing really doesnt boil down to how fast railcars move. (to Joliet), Norfolk Southern West (Elgin) Free shipping . The Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) is the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in North. As required, yard crews gather up cuts of cars from the classification yard and forward them to the departure yard, where outbound trains originate. PD CalTrain (maybe ex-?) AAR 54 - 160.920 Heritage Corridor Brown and a few business partners. AAR 62 - 161.040 Union Pacific West Copyright 2007-2023 American-Rails.com. When railfanning, one the things you should have with you If you are a supplier, contractor or carrier, please visit the. The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway began operations on December 4, 1888, through the merger of these two systems. Ex-Relco 3003 < EMDX 6500 < VMV 8301 < CSXT 8301 < SBD 1225 < nee L&N SD40 1225. Glassdoor has 17 Belt Railway of Chicago reviews submitted anonymously by Belt Railway of Chicago employees. Road 2 AAR 64 - 161.070 (University Park) Here 534 is shown under the Interstate 290 overpass at Soo Lines' Bensenville Yard before she was . 196 were here. While the project was under construction the consortium which controlled the C&WI also took over (via lease) the Belt Division in October of 1882. Connecting Chicago Since 1882. The east end of the yard is reached from 65th Street. Leave feedback about your eBay ViewItem experience, - eBay Money Back Guarantee - opens in a new window or tab, PD Belt Railway of Chicago 602 - Original Slide - North Lake, IL, - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab, about earning points with eBay Mastercard, Report this item - opens in new window or tab. Hanging around the South Deering area of Chicago's far South Side on a recent Wednesday turned out to be well worth it. BRC managers say that those simulations will help analyze operations at the engine level, analyze costs, and objectively order capital improvements, which prove invaluable to hump yards like Clearing. The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (reporting mark EJE) was a Class I railroad, operating between Waukegan, Illinois and Gary, Indiana. The BRC job had an eclectic mix of power as well- BRC 3GS21B #211, one of the (so far) three gensets on the roster, SD38-2 #560, and leased, ex-BN SD40-2 #8140 sandwiched between them. As described. AAR 52 - 160.890 Union Pacific Ex-Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range. These units soldiered on for several decades before finally being retired. [7] The final steam movement occurred in late May 1949, led by a Mikado 2-8-2, EJ&E #740. $3.89 + $1.35 shipping . Refresh your browser window to try again. The Belt's Clearing . Mr. Pinkepank's article from the September, 1966 issue of Trains Magazine entitled "The Belt Railway Of Chicago: A Railroad's Railroad," explained best how it all worked (If you have can find copies both of his articles mentioned here they provide a superb history regarding the BRC!). $4.99 . Note: Trains of one railroad will usually use the host's Free shipping . You can do the arithmetic quickly: If youre humping at 1.8 mph, thats so many feet per second and so many cars per 24 hours, Gelder says, meaning that, in theory, 9,500 feet of train can be classified, or humped, in an hour. Forced to do more with less by way of procedures rather than property expansions, most current-day efforts to improve yard operation have come by way of automation and information technology. In one case, a heavy, loaded railcar rolling quickly off the crest might catch up to a lighter, empty railcar and tailgate onto the wrong track. Road, Belt Railway of Chicago 650 sold to CITI rail as of 2011,654 sold to Hartwell Railroad as of 2012, 651653,655 sold to DM&IR in 1992/3, All still active under Canadian National Ownership, 658,664,666,668,670. DI DPGX 2000 - Original Slide - Palmyra, WI (#195539844075). At its northern periphery a real estate developer created the Clearing Industrial District (now known as the Bedford-Clearing Industrial District) which witnessed numerous factories spring up that generated a substantial amount of originating freight. The huge terminal opened in 1902 but, unfortunately, lack of traffic and mistrust among the bigger railroads killed Stickney's plan. [8] Another 2-8-2, #765, which had been sold to the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway in 1948, is the railway's only surviving steam locomotive. By the late 1980's the company was owned by just the Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Conrail, CSX Transportation, Illinois Central Gulf, Grand Trunk Western, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and Soo Line. The Bedford Industrial Park and the Clearing District, just outside the city limits, is served exclusively by the BRC. Very happy with purchase and seller. is difficult to have a detailed map in such a small place. View cart for details. converge onto Chicago. Today, these belching beasts are no longer on the property as the railroad maintains a fleet of entirely second-generation Electro-Motive products (some rebuilt to environmentally-friendly specifications) and low-emission "gensets.". Technologically, the Trainyard Tech Classmaster yard-automation system, introduced in 2009, has been one of the most useful improvements. If you are researching anything EMD related please visit this page first. INTERLOCKING DIAGRAMS, the RAILROADS Great! While such an application isnt completely new to the railroad industry, nor BRC Trainyard Techs product is the third example of yard automation used here the systems abilities to deliver key statistics and measure the operations performance are clearly advanced. In the late steam era it operated nearly 100 locomotives with the largest being 2-10-2's. Abridged from an article in the out-of-print Trains special issue Chicago: Americas Rail Capital, published in 2017. Belt Railway of Chicago Photographic Roster. The above steam roster information is courtesy ofJerry Pinkepank's article, "How The Belt Came To Be" from the October, 1966 issue of Trains Magazine. However, construction of the present line to Gary, Whiting and South Chicago was initiated in 1899 by the Griffith and Northern Railway. Indiana Harbor Belt He is best known for establishing the Chicago Great Western and conceived Clearing as Chicago's primary classification yard. YARDS All were sold and scrapped by 1974 replaced by the EMD SD38-2 fleet. The Belt Railway of Chicago was one of the last in the United States to operate a locomotive in its 1976-inspired bicentennial paint scheme, in fact, BRC No. Author's work. Enhanced visibility into train makeup rules and automatically highlight violations, Do Not Sell My Personal Information For CA Residents as to BDO Investigative Due Diligence, Opt-out of Targeted Advertising Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Released over 175 enhancements to the system in approximately 50 releases, Required zero downtime or work stoppage to release any of the updates, Delivered new features and changes in hours instead of weeks. Wade Massie photo. While the C&WI did host some freight services most of this was handled through its Belt Railway of Chicago affiliate, which utilized trackage rights for this purpose. Radio Frequencies Combined, this meant the BRC's need was simply in decline. Branch, diverging from the Main Line at 55th Street. Lassen thanks Patrick OBrien, Tim Coffey, Chris Gorski, and Nick Chodorow at Belt Railway of Chicago for their assistance. Don't miss this look at the history of America's most influential builder of locomotives. There were two separate EMD NW2 locomotives designated #450, though not at the same time. The Belt Railway Company of Chicago is currently accepting resumes for Mechanical-Car Department employees. Today we are looking to see some of the Belt Railway Pull d. Transkentucky Transportation Inc (TTI) 5857 - Original Slide - Carlisle, KY (#195538603185). In 1898 the EJ&E merged with four other non-railway companies to form Federal Steel Company. Over the years Clearing has been continually rebuilt and expanded. This would eliminate the need of these larger systems to build separate rights-of-way into the city. [6] Over the next 12 years, the entire steam fleet was replaced with first generation diesels. 160.035 (a non-AAR frequency), Chicago Short Line The Belt has 28 miles of mainline route with more than 300 miles of switching tracks, allowing it to interchange with every railroad serving the Chicago rail hub. On the surface, the operation of a hump yard seems simple enough: Trains arrive, get humped into classification tracks, and soon become new trains to faraway destinations. The Belt Railway of Chicago is the city's oldest belt line, formed by the Chicago & Western Indiana. The railroad's passenger services began with the start of operations in January 1889. AAR 91 - 161.475, Metra 6.4 Clearing Yard. By 1910, seven more railroads had joined. Thank you. [5], The EJ&E underwent dieselization relatively early. In General The railroad served as a link between Class I railroads traveling to and from Chicago, although it operated almost entirely within the city's suburbs, and only entered Chicago where it served the U.S. Steel South Works on the shores of Lake Michigan. History - Belt Railway Company of Chicago History Since 1882, The Belt Railway Company of Chicago has been an integral part of railroad operations in the Chicago Gateway. Between 1912 and 1933 the C&WI picked up two other small additions, the Chicago Union Transfer Railway (more about this operation later) and Burlington South Chicago Terminal Railroad. It survived until Amtrak in 1971. For railfans, it is best known for once utilizing a large fleet of historic Alco diesels. 11.4 East End Switches 11.6 Hayford (crossing - CSX) Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard, co-owned by six Class I railroads, stretches over 4 miles near Midway International Airport. The big railroads constructed so-called "perimeter yards" around the city and from these freight was picked up by the belt lines which transferred it either through the city or to its final destination. Railroad Website. The Belt Railway completed its switch from steam to diesel power on January 20, 1952. Sponsored. Original slide: BRC Belt Railway of Chicago 481 GP9 . Thanks! An official, 1969 system map of the Belt Railway of Chicago. On December 31, 2012, Canadian National announced that the merger of the EJ&E into Wisconsin Central Ltd. (Another railroad subsidiary of CN) had been completed, and would take effect the following day. Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. NICTD It sat vacant almost immediately and remained so for a decade until congestion became so severe railroads were essentially forced to use it. - Thank you. By this time other belts had sprung up, notably the B&O-controlled Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal, the Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central and Milwaukee Road), and to a lesser extent the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Their eventual interest was due to Clearing Yard. During those two years, passengers would be transported by caboose. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Belt Railway of Chicago is right for you. Unit # Notes Model Serial # Pictures : BRC 4: nee C&WI 4, 01/1918, scrapped in 1950 The purchase was approved on December 24, 2008, by the U.S. If you are researching active or abandoned corridors you might want to check out the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Historical Topographic Map Explorer. happening, and where trains are. At 140 years of age, The Belt Railway Company of Chicago is rising to the challenge of being America's largest intermediate switching terminal railroad with enhancements to its operations and an impeccable safety record. Road 5 AAR 94 - 161.520 (ex L&N lines, Register to access Secure Tools, Applications and Reports to help simplify your business. AAR 66 - 161.100 BNSF Line The west end of the yard can be reached via the 59th St. In 1882 the Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad was chartered, the original parent company of the BRC. During the company's peak period it maintained fourteen different interlocking towers and owned a total of nearly 152 miles of track which included all through routes, yards, sidings, spurs, etc. Learn about the vital importance of Illinois to the nation's railroads and enjoy dinner aboard a train at the Monticello Railway Museum. 3.1 Narragansett (junction - IHB) The infrastructure running this and other systems has also evolved. 55th St. to Rock Island Jct. In addition, the Pere Marquette purchased an interest in 1924 but was then acquired by the C&O in 1947. It would be owned by all the belt lines (effectively, all Chicago railroads) and feature a unique, circular design. The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, headquartered in Bedford Park, IL, is the largest switching terminal railroad in the United States. Check out our belt railway of chicago selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Classic Railroad Scenes: Railroads at Work. Road AAR 99 - 161.610 (Blue Enjoy all the splendor West Virginia's natural beauty has to offer while enjoying dinner by train on the West Virginia Central and other locations. (laws providing), is a scanner. Andre Kristopans provided major revisions and updates to the roster in July 2015. Here, a lead track or collection of lead tracks gradually climb the incline, peaking at the hump, over which railcars are pushed by one or more locomotives, then uncoupled by a switchman or conductor. Main yard is Clearing Yard. CROSSINGS Branch, diverging from the Main Line at 55th Street. The information includes original numbers, serials, and order numbers. The Archer Avenue at Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) Grade Separation Study is an initiative of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE), which brings together the U.S. Achieving the optimum speed translates to achieving a perfect balance: The railcar must move quickly enough to clear for the next car coming off the crest, but not so fast so as to damage its freight. This page was last edited on 3 April 2022, at 15:39. 59th St. Fast shipping. AAR 22 - 160.044 Southwest Service This original group included the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago (Monon); Chicago & Atlantic (Erie); Chicago & Eastern Illinois; Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific (Wabash); and Grand Trunk Railway (predecessor of the Grand Trunk Western). $29.00. Uncover why Belt Railway Company of Chicago is the best company for you. It is co-owned by six Class I railroad BNSF Railway, Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and Union Pacific Railroad each of which uses the switching and interchange facilities of the BRC. By precisely controlling the flow off the crest, the Trainyard Tech system has reduced the number of misroutes, a bugaboo intrinsic in every hump yard. Beginning in the late 1940's it began purchasing diesels from Electro-Motive and American Locomotive to replace its steam fleet (switchers and light road-switchers).