Chicago area switchers and a unique CP SD40-2.

BRC530GB_020502

IS THERE A smarter terminal railroad paint job than the Belt Railway of Chicago’s black, yellow and grey scheme? Looking most handsome, SW1500 No. BRC 530 was recorded at the railroad’s shops at the massive Clearing Yard in Bedford Park, Chicago, Illinois, on May 2nd, 2002. This is one of six of the EMD switcher type to be employed by BRC.

IHB87910GB_071002

Built in 1949, Indiana Harbor Belt’s fleet of NW2 switchers were in operation with the Chicago area terminal road for over 55 years before being retired in the first half of the first decade of the 21st Century. Wearing its black and orange with pride, No. IHB 8791 forms part of a Union Pacific consist leaving Blue Island Yard, Illinois, on October 7th, 2002.

StLH5560GB_120402

Think of the dullest day ever and then multiply it by five and you have the day in which this picture was taken! The location, near the Inco smelter just west of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, doesn’t help either… Unique Canadian Pacific SD40 into SD40-2 wreck rebuild No. StL&H 5560 powers through the dreary landscape at the head of a train of taconite pellets with partner No. CP 5676 on April 12th, 2002. The lead locomotive is one of only a very small number of CP SDs to wear St Lawrence & Hudson brandings.