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- Farrell quickly learning nuances of train handling
Understanding train movements — and anticipating what comes next — is central to Locomotive Engineer Will Farrell’s role at the Belt. Farrell, a five-year team member, recently made the transition from switchman to locomotive engineer after completing a five-month process that included classroom instruction and on-the-job training with Locomotive Engineer Mike Holic. He notes he … Continue reading
Connecting Chicago Since 1882
The Belt Railway is the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in the United States, employing approximately 450 people. 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. The Belt’s Clearing Yard span a 5.5 mile distance among 786 acres, supporting more than 250 miles of track.
With Chicago being the largest hub of the railroad industry, very few rail cars travel transcontinentally without coming through Chicago. Owner lines, as well as several other railroads, bring trains to the Belt Railway to be efficiently separated, classified, and re-blocked for cross-country departure. The Belt Railway currently dispatches on a service-driven basis more than 8,400 rail cars per day. At Clearing Yards, employees are able to classify between 40 and 50 miles of train consists every 24 hours.
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