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6/24/2025
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Viewing Album:  Switching and terminal roads
 
By:Tom Beckett
Dates:1/1/1981 - 11/30/2011
Album Info:Includes switching district roads such as IHB, BRC, TRRA, etc, and shortlines that work essentially one customer, PB&NE, and the like.
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Ancient power
Title:  Ancient power
Description:  A Washington Terminal RS 1 works at Union Station, as it has for years. At the time, besides Amtrak, there were commuter trains on the B&O and ex Pennsy lines. The Southern had turned over the Crescent to Amtrak about 18 months earlier, and was no longer a participant.
Photo Date:  8/10/1980  Upload Date: 12/9/2016 3:35:49 AM
Location:  Washington Union Sta, DC
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Station,Passenger,Action
Locomotives:  WATC 43(RS1)
Views:  663   Comments: 1
Future star
Title:  Future star
Description:  WTCo 47, seen at Ivy City, will have a long second career once it is retired from Union Station. This unit, and sister 62, will go on to become the mainstay of the Tioga Central in upstate NY.
Photo Date:  8/10/1980  Upload Date: 12/9/2016 3:39:11 AM
Location:  Ivy City, DC
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  WATC 47(RS1)
Views:  649   Comments: 1
Cab hop
Title:  Cab hop
Description:  An IHB switcher pushes a caboose through the State Line interlocking
Photo Date:  10/9/1982  Upload Date: 6/4/2014 4:16:36 AM
Location:  State Line Crossing, IN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  IHB 8780(NW2)
Views:  647   Comments: 0
Washington Terminal RS 1
Title:  Washington Terminal RS 1
Description:  Washington Terminal RS 1 #59 works at Washington Union Station, where it switched not only Amtrak, but MARC trains as well.
Photo Date:  7/15/1983  Upload Date: 10/29/2011 3:09:03 AM
Location:  Washington, DC
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Station,Passenger
Locomotives:  WATC 59(RS1)
Views:  911   Comments: 0
Builders plate
Title:  Builders plate
Description:  Ths builders plate on Washington Terminal 59. It was old then, older now, still serving on the Tioga Scenic in Wellsboro PA as far as I know.
Photo Date:  7/15/1983  Upload Date: 11/16/2013 3:42:47 AM
Location:  Washington Union Sta, DC
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  RollingStock,Station
Locomotives:  WATC 59(RS1)
Views:  773   Comments: 0
Action on the New Orleans Public Belt
Title:  Action on the New Orleans Public Belt
Description:  A NOPB switcher leads a transfer near Carrolton Av on the NOPB
Photo Date:  3/9/1984  Upload Date: 8/20/2011 1:19:03 AM
Location:  New Orleans, LA
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  NOPB 101(SW1000)
Views:  960   Comments: 0
Past the tower
Title:  Past the tower
Description:  An IHB transfer rolls past State Line tower
Photo Date:  3/21/1984  Upload Date: 6/4/2014 4:21:51 AM
Location:  State Line Crossing, IN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Signal,Action
Locomotives:  IHB 9214(SW1500) IHB 9200(SW1500)
Views:  750   Comments: 0
B&O transfer
Title:  B&O transfer
Description:  B&O 4237, a unit I had seen coming into town at State Line tower the previous day. now works a transfer run on the Harbor Belt.
Photo Date:  3/22/1984  Upload Date: 5/17/2014 3:47:05 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Action
Locomotives:  BO 4237(GP40-2)
Views:  647   Comments: 0
CR on the Belt
Title:  CR on the Belt
Description:  A Conrail train heads for Clearing Yard on the Belt Railway at Forest Hill.
Photo Date:  3/22/1984  Upload Date: 5/17/2014 3:24:50 AM
Location:  FOREST HILL, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CR 6433(SD40-2) CR 6494(SD40-2)
Views:  740   Comments: 0
Grand Trunk on the Harbor
Title:  Grand Trunk on the Harbor
Description:  A Grand Trunk transfer with-what else??-auto frames, rolls south on the IHB headed for Michigan. I'd see 5808 again in Vermont when it went to the CV a few years later.
Photo Date:  3/22/1984  Upload Date: 5/17/2014 3:26:38 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Action
Locomotives:  GTW 5836(GP38-2) GTW 5808(GP38AC)
Views:  981   Comments: 0
Power at home
Title:  Power at home
Description:  The terminal roads in Chicago see trains from all the participants who come into the area-most of whom are part owners-but the IHB also runs quite a few of its own trains, such as this transfer at La Grange about to pass under the BN-note the signal bridge above the GBW box car. The GBW is now itself a long ago memory. Over the years, IHB has played with their paint schemes. In 1984, it was orange, actually a good looking scheme, and aided visibility.
Photo Date:  3/22/1984  Upload Date: 5/17/2014 3:35:33 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Winter,Action
Locomotives:  IHB 8727(NW2) IHB 8831(NW2)
Views:  1006   Comments: 0
Switcher in the trees
Title:  Switcher in the trees
Description:  A PB&NE SW seen from a far off vantage point.
Photo Date:  1/15/1985  Upload Date: 9/24/2014 2:15:29 AM
Location:  Bethlehem, PA
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives: 
Views:  722   Comments: 1
Port of Montreal
Title:  Port of Montreal
Description:  Port of Montreal MP 15 at the gate to the port. This was a lucky catch. I was poking around the area, looking for photo spots, found this by accident.
Photo Date:  8/26/1985  Upload Date: 8/20/2011 1:15:30 AM
Location:  Montreal PQ, QC
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster,Yard
Locomotives:  POM 8406(MP15AC)
Views:  946   Comments: 0
J power in fresh paint
Title:  J power in fresh paint
Description:  The EJ&E is a hard road to catch. I found these two units sitting on the main in Dyer Indiana, just by luck. The leader is in clean paint. The J herald is yet to be applied, so they must have sent it out in a hurry.
Photo Date:  6/20/1987  Upload Date: 5/6/2015 4:53:15 AM
Location:  Dyer, IN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  EJE 665(SD38-2) EJE 657(SD38-2)
Views:  1547   Comments: 0
Northbound on the IHB
Title:  Northbound on the IHB
Description:  The Indiana Harbor Belt was a great road to watch. On my way through Chicago, I stopped while en route west, catching this northbound transfer heading for Franklin Park behind a couple of Chessie classics.
Photo Date:  6/21/1987  Upload Date: 5/6/2015 4:50:40 AM
Location:  La Grange Park, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CO 3561(GP35) CO 3034(GP30)
Views:  800   Comments: 1
Minnesota Transfer local
Title:  Minnesota Transfer local
Description:  Minnesota Transfer SW in the Minneapolis. Note the NP tender. No idea why it was there, or how it got there.
Photo Date:  6/24/1987  Upload Date: 1/14/2012 11:38:01 PM
Location:  Minneapolis, MN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  MTFR 306(SW1500)
Views:  707   Comments: 1
Bridging the gap
Title:  Bridging the gap
Description:  Conrail, CNW, and UP participated in a run through train from Elkhart Ind to North Platte on the UP, symbolled ELNP. To get through Chicago, it used the Indiana Harbor Belt to get over the gap from CR to CNW. Here it is with all three component roads power having just rolled under the BN. This type of consist was typical.
Photo Date:  6/25/1987  Upload Date: 5/13/2015 3:50:17 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 5073(GP50) UP 3257(SD40-2) CR 6625(C36-7) CR 6375(SD40-2)
Views:  1359   Comments: 0
Home road power
Title:  Home road power
Description:  The IHB was a busy road, with most Chicago area line haul roads running transfers over it. Every once in a while, youd catch some of the home road power, such as these three SWs rolling east just at sunset.
Photo Date:  6/25/1987  Upload Date: 5/13/2015 3:51:46 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  IHB 8811(NW2) IHB 8864(SW7) IHB 8875(SW7)
Views:  1093   Comments: 0
SOO containers
Title:  SOO containers
Description:  A set of SOO power rolls a COFC train east on the IHB. It will get on the C&O for a trip across Michigan, and then on to Montreal via CP.
Photo Date:  6/25/1987  Upload Date: 5/13/2015 3:56:49 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SOO 6622(SD40-2) SOO 6619(SD40-2) SOO 6613(SD40-2)
Views:  1037   Comments: 0
Chicago West Pullman switcher
Title:  Chicago West Pullman switcher
Description:  A Chicago & West Pullman SW works at one of the many south side yards, as seen from Amtraks Lake Cities, a Toledo-Detroit-Chicago train that connected Michigan destinations with the Lake Shore Limited at Toledo
Photo Date:  3/10/1990  Upload Date: 12/3/2011 12:16:13 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  CWP 51(SW9)
Views:  671   Comments: 0
Kirk Yard
Title:  Kirk Yard
Description:  One way to see Kirk Yard was from the train, which skirted the south side. We see an SD 9 working a cut of cars from the Lake Cities.
Photo Date:  3/10/1990  Upload Date: 12/23/2015 4:48:40 AM
Location:  Gary, IN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  EJE 612(SD9)
Views:  590   Comments: 0
Steel job
Title:  Steel job
Description:  An IHB cow/calf set work at Inland Steel in Gary, seen from the Lake Cities.
Photo Date:  3/10/1990  Upload Date: 12/23/2015 4:53:19 AM
Location:  Gary, IN
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  IHB 8829(NW2) IHB BU51(NW2R)
Views:  844   Comments: 0
Yard power at Clearing
Title:  Yard power at Clearing
Description: 
Photo Date:  1/14/1996  Upload Date: 7/29/2012 3:47:10 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  BRC 500(TR2A) BRC 515(TR4B)
Views:  840   Comments: 0
Cow-calf set at Forest Hill tower
Title:  Cow-calf set at Forest Hill tower
Description:  A BRC cow-calf set approaches Foerst hill tower from Clearing with a trainsfer. Note the signal beyond the train has not dropped to stop. The signals here were not automatic.
Photo Date:  1/14/1996  Upload Date: 7/29/2012 3:49:22 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  BRC 501(TR2A) BRC 510(TR2B)
Views:  923   Comments: 0
GP 7s rule
Title:  GP 7s rule
Description:  I can still hear the sound of 567s winding up as this train starts out of the west end of BRCs Clearing Yard. The CNW had already been taken over by the UP at this point, but youd never know it looking at this train.
Photo Date:  1/14/1996  Upload Date: 7/29/2012 3:44:29 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Yard,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 4101(GP7R) CNW 4103(GP7R) CNW 4102(GP7R) CNW 4114(GP7R)
Views:  1102   Comments: 0
Rare units
Title:  Rare units
Description:  SOO had two SD39s, a pair of ex MN&S units that they acquired when they merged that road. They wound up on Chicago area transfers. Here we see them on the IHB in Bedford Park, just after leaving Belt Railways Clearing Yard headed for Bensenville.
Photo Date:  1/14/1996  Upload Date: 5/16/2014 2:01:09 AM
Location:  Bedford Park, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SOO 6241(SD39) SOO 6240(SD39)
Views:  1163   Comments: 1
BRC cow-calf set
Title:  BRC cow-calf set
Description:  A BRC cow-calf set works east through Forest Hill interlocking.
Photo Date:  3/10/1996  Upload Date: 1/15/2012 11:16:44 PM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  BRC 501(TR2A)
Views:  653   Comments: 0
ATSF transfer
Title:  ATSF transfer
Description:  An ATSF transfer rolls along the Indiana Harbor Belt
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:47:20 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  ATSF 3032(GP20u) ATSF 3680(GP39-2)
Views:  1496   Comments: 0
ATSF transfer
Title:  ATSF transfer
Description:  An ATSF transfer behind an SD 45 rolls on the IHB.
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:48:41 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  ATSF 5437(SD45u) ATSF 5252(SDF40-2) ATSF 3005(GP20u)
Views:  1167   Comments: 0
ATSF transfer
Title:  ATSF transfer
Description:  Another Santa Fe transfer rolls along the IHB, this one behind a GE and a pair of EMDs
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:50:05 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  ATSF 8162(C30-7) ATSF 3072(GP20u) ATSF 3690(GP39-2)
Views:  994   Comments: 0
567s rule
Title:  567s rule
Description:  A CNW GP 7 rolls past 75th Street on the BRC
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 5/9/2014 1:44:33 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CNW 4124(GP7R)
Views:  563   Comments: 2
CP transfer
Title:  CP transfer
Description:  A CP transfer behind a quartet of their legion of SD 40 types on the IHB.
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:51:43 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CP 5589(SD40-2) CP 5584(SD40-2) CP 5552(SD40)
Views:  1088   Comments: 0
CP transfer
Title:  CP transfer
Description:  A CP transfer behind a pair of SD 40s, the lead unit in Dual Flags, rolls on the IHB
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:53:36 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CP 5639(SD40-2) CP 5635(SD40-2)
Views:  795   Comments: 0
Conrail transfer
Title:  Conrail transfer
Description:  A CR transfer of Sea Land containers roll past Forest Hill crossing behind a GP 15. I love all the signals and trackwork here. It just screams high density railroading.
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 5/9/2014 1:29:29 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CR 1664(GP15-1)
Views:  488   Comments: 1
CSX transfer
Title:  CSX transfer
Description:  A CSX transfer behind a pair of GEs on the IHB
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 1:03:09 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CSX 9014(C40-9W) CSX 9030(C40-9W)
Views:  1212   Comments: 0
CSX on the Belt Railway
Title:  CSX on the Belt Railway
Description:  A CSX train rolls west at Forest Hill-note the low clear on the dwarf-as a cow calf set of BRC power eases eastward.
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 5/9/2014 1:31:14 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  BRC 503(TR4A) CSX 8627(SD50) CSX 6025(GP40-2)
Views:  1099   Comments: 0
Slug set
Title:  Slug set
Description:  An IHB train behind a switcher and a slug rolls along home rails.
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 12:54:55 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  IHB 9204(SW1500) IHB PB1(Yard Slug)
Views:  902   Comments: 0
Light power
Title:  Light power
Description:  A light power move of eight units on the IHB
Photo Date:  4/14/1996  Upload Date: 6/11/2012 1:04:53 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories: 
Locomotives:  IHB 9216(SW1500) IHB 9200(SW1500) IHB 8727(NW2) IHB 4002(SD40) IHB 3801(GP38-2)
Views:  1271   Comments: 0
Meet on the Harbor
Title:  Meet on the Harbor
Description:  Santa Fes VMCOK meets a CSX transfer
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:08:04 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  ATSF 5437(SD45u) MKM 5252(SDF40-2) ATSF 3005(GP20u) CSX 9014(C40-9W) CSX 9030(C40-9W)
Views:  1710   Comments: 2
IHB meet
Title:  IHB meet
Description:  A Santa Fe train meets and IHB transfer
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:13:06 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  ATSF 8162(C30-7) ATSF 3070(GP20u) ATSF 3690(GP39-2) IHB 9209(SW1500) IHB BU2(Yard Slug)
Views:  1252   Comments: 2
Cow and calf
Title:  Cow and calf
Description:  In the mid 90s, BRC was still using cow-calf sets of switchers. I saw two sets this day. Heres one at Forest Hill
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:16:04 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  BRC 501(TR2A) BRC 510(TR2B)
Views:  841   Comments: 1
CN on the Belt
Title:  CN on the Belt
Description:  Took this at 60th and Menard.
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:17:30 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CN 5606(SD70I) CN 6012(SD40-2Q)
Views:  882   Comments: 0
CN 341
Title:  CN 341
Description:  CN 341 with 105 cars on the BRC
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:20:33 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CN 5611(SD70I) CN 2412(C40-8M)
Views:  1037   Comments: 0
True classics-and what a sound!!
Title:  True classics-and what a sound!!
Description:  This set of GP 7s was working toward Proviso, just out of Clearing when I caught it. Those 567s were just marvelous.
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:24:12 AM
Location:  Bedford Park, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CNW 4101(GP7R) CNW 4103(GP7R) CNW 4102(GP7R) CNW 4114(GP7R)
Views:  862   Comments: 1
Waiting for light power
Title:  Waiting for light power
Description:  A CSX transfer headed for Clearing waits for a set of BN power at Forest Hill
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:26:28 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  CSX 8627(SD50) CSX 6025(GP40-2) BN 7301(SD40R) LMX 8573(B39-8E)
Views:  1243   Comments: 0
CSX on the Belt
Title:  CSX on the Belt
Description:  A westbound CSX transfer passes Forest Hill
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:28:51 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  CSX 8627(SD50) CSX 6025(GP40-2)
Views:  840   Comments: 0
Switcher drag race
Title:  Switcher drag race
Description:  A pair of IHB SWs roll side by side on the Harbor
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:34:05 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  IHB 9204(SW1500) IHB 9216(SW1500)
Views:  746   Comments: 1
NS power
Title:  NS power
Description:  One of the original participants in Forest Hill crossing was the Wabash, whose operation is now part of the NS system. Here are a pair of GP59s approaching Forest Hill tower.
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:41:29 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Signal,Action
Locomotives:  NS 4608(GP59) NS 4604(GP49)
Views:  888   Comments: 0
Soo transfer for Clearing
Title:  Soo transfer for Clearing
Description:  A CP transfer from Bensenville to Clearing approaches the yard. Ten years after the takeover, MILW units were still wearing the patch.
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:49:47 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SOO 2064(GP40) SOO 2015(GP40)
Views:  772   Comments: 0
Returning transfer
Title:  Returning transfer
Description:  The CP transfer seen on the way in, is now on the way back to Bensenville, seen from Harlem Av at the west end of Clearing Yard.
Photo Date:  4/28/1996  Upload Date: 5/10/2014 2:52:36 AM
Location:  Chicago, IL
Author:  Tom Beckett
Categories:  Action
Locomotives:  SOO 2064(GP40) SOO 2015(GP40)
Views:  824   Comments: 2

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