A crucial part of the Belt’s infrastructure was reinvigorated by Track on July 17-18.

The throat between the West Classification Yard and the Departure Yard was the site of the action. Assistant Chief Engineer Tom Lyons said working safely and efficiently was vital to ensure the work was completed during two nine-hour outages. 

“We did a great job planning the outage,” he said. “A lot was accomplished in two days.” 

The job entailed installing six 80-foot track panels, a new No. 9 turnout and 250 ties. A crossover that was no longer necessary was removed, which will simplify future maintenance. The team’s efficiency allowed for additional surfacing work.

Lyons thanked Transportation and a contractor for their cooperation.

“We have different roles, but we’re all one team,” he said. 

Lyons praised Track for working together and keeping safety first. 

What are the keys to staying safe in the summer?

Make sure you stay hydrated. If you’re starting to feel overheated, take a break and cool down when necessary. Looking out for fellow co-workers is always important, but especially when it’s hot.

– Machine Operator James Kula