Motive Power on the Belt Railway of Chicago

Producer: Midwest Video Productions

Locations: Bedford Park, Chicago

Timeframe: 1997

Length: 1 hour 19 minutes

Source: Bob Calvert

Complete overview of the 48 locomotives operating on the Belt Railway of Chicago. Clearing Yard is a major classification yard in Bedford Park.

A single DVD-R. Old camcorder footage. Imagery ranges from fair to good. Many exposure issues. Live environmental audio. The soundtrack is fine

No menu. Push play. Every locomotive has a pair of billboard information screens. Type, quantity and engine specs and builds are displayed. A map has the current operation in 1997. Very informative narration.

To the Trains… 👉

A highlight of the Clearing Yards is the Bedford Park Locomotive Shops. Begins with exterior views. Both BRC and foreign locomotives are seen. Check the turntable from the Roundhouse era.

A rare Alco S-6 switcher #420 blows black smoke. Typical for Alco motors. The only one on the roster. Built in 1957. Controls are shown.

Large Alco Century C-424 class. The 605 pulls away from the Diesel House. These were often paired on local transfer runs.

Numbers 602/ 601. These Century 424 diesels depart on B&OCT tracks from Clearing Yard. Notice the ‘fair’ picture quality which appears often in this show.

GP7 #477 is switching in the yard.

GP 9 had 2 locomotives on the Belt. The 480 and 481. Here is 481 working on the West End of Clearing Yard. The cab controls are shown inside 481.

The GP38-2 locomotives have six that entered service in 1972. Number 490 is near Rockwell Yard. These are specially equipped with Pacesetter controls for slow speed Hump Service.

Electro-motive TR4A and TR4B cow/ calf sets are from 1950. A total of four units. The TR4A and TR4B had ten units. Cow 500 (TR2A) and calf 515 (TR4B) work a Transfer Freight at Hayford Junction.

EMD SW-1500 pair. Numbers 530 and 531. Notice the exhaust extensions.

MP15 pair. Engine 533 and the 534 which is still in Bi-Centennial paint. These sport road trucks and are Pacesetter equipped like the GP38-2 locomotives. Useful in both yard and hump duties

An extended visit inside the locomotive shops. An Alco traction motor is in the air. Geep 481 is parked. A variety of power in for assorted work.

A section on foreign power. They contracted some railroads diesel service at Bedford Park. Includes: Norfolk Southern, GECX Super Sevens, UP, SP, CN, GT, Electro-motive, Chicago and NorthWestern and more. Quite a bit to see parked here. Two Southern Pacific tunnel motors ease through the area.

Caboose 223 is parked outside the Locomotive Shops.

Motive Power on the Belt Railway of Chicago

The Belt Railway of Chicago was an interesting railroad here. Much of the roster consisted of vintage locomotives. Even up into the 1990s. Much of the equipment appeared as it did in the 1960s- 1970s. Almost like a working train museum.

The script is very informative. The video quality is far from modern standards. Ranges from fair to good. Historical value is the reason to acquire these old shows. However, as far as a comparison to similar MVD Productions of the time. This is one of the better looking releases. Notice that Tim Walter has a post production credit. Perhaps some enhancements under this Highball reissue.

Railfans and Model Railroaders can find this a valuable show to see so much vintage equipment still in daily revenue service. Pretty close to a rolling museum at the time. If this catches your interest. The overview is hard to find outside of Midwest Video Productions.

Give it a bump up for the uncommon coverage of The Belt Railway of Chicago – locomotives.

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars