About The belt railway company of chicago
The Belt Railway Company of Chicago: Connecting the Nation's Railways
The Belt Railway Company of Chicago is a vital link in the nation's railway system, connecting major railroads and providing efficient transportation services to businesses across the Midwest. With over 500 miles of track and state-of-the-art facilities, this company has been a cornerstone of American commerce for over a century.
History
Founded in 1882, The Belt Railway Company of Chicago was created to provide an alternative route for freight trains around the congested city center. By building a belt line around the outskirts of Chicago, trains could bypass downtown traffic and reach their destinations more quickly. This innovative solution proved successful, and soon other cities began to adopt similar systems.
Over time, The Belt Railway Company expanded its operations beyond just bypassing downtown traffic. It became an important hub for interchanging freight between different railroads, allowing goods to be transported across long distances without interruption. Today, it remains one of the most important links in America's railway network.
Services
The Belt Railway Company offers a wide range of services to its customers. Its primary function is as an interchange point between different railroads - when one train arrives at The Belt from one railroad company, its cargo can be transferred onto another train from a different company that will take it further along its journey.
In addition to this core service, The Belt also provides switching services within its own network - moving cars from one track to another within its yards or delivering them directly to customers' facilities. It also offers storage facilities for goods that need temporary housing before being shipped out again.
One unique service offered by The Belt is "unit train" handling - this involves moving entire trains full of identical cargo (such as coal or grain) from one location to another without breaking them up into individual cars along the way. This can save time and money for both shippers and receivers by reducing handling costs.
Facilities
The Belt Railway Company operates several key facilities throughout Chicagoland that allow it to efficiently move freight through the region:
- Clearing Yard: Located on over 800 acres in southwest suburban Chicago, Clearing Yard is one of North America's largest classification yards.
- Bedford Park Intermodal Terminal: This facility allows containers and trailers to be transferred between trucks and trains.
- Western Avenue Interchange: A key interchange point with several major railroads.
- Cicero Yard: A smaller yard located near Midway Airport that handles local switching operations.
- Calumet Yard: Located on Lake Michigan's south shore near Indiana Harbor Ship Canal; primarily used for storing empty cars awaiting repair or shipment elsewhere.
These facilities are all equipped with modern technology such as computerized tracking systems that allow customers real-time updates on their shipments' progress through The Belt's network.
Safety & Sustainability
As with any transportation company dealing with heavy machinery moving at high speeds across long distances every day safety is paramount at The belt railway company . They have implemented strict safety protocols including regular training programs , equipment maintenance checks , drug testing policies etc .
In addition they have taken steps towards sustainability by implementing eco-friendly practices such as using energy-efficient lighting throughout their yards , recycling waste materials wherever possible etc .
Conclusion
For over 100 years now ,the belt railway company has been playing an integral role in connecting businesses across midwest USA . Their state-of-the-art infrastructure coupled with top-notch customer service makes them stand out among competitors . If you're looking for reliable transportation solutions look no further than "The belt railway company".
beltrailway.com
