View allAll Photos Tagged Beltpack
It's party up front, business in the back as Canadian National's 1500 job works the Bunge facilities in Hamilton's industrial heartland behind a venerable EMD GP40-2.
With interchange cars from the CP, a CN beltpack job heads back to CN's Regina Yard. At 47 years young, CN 4718 looks like a good paint shop candidate.
With a steady hand and an eye ahead for errant pedestrians and automobiles, the one-man team for this US Steel job runs SW9 #1242 out of the Granite City (IL) Works via belt-pack while switching empty and loaded gondolas. Parked in the distance is SW9 #1246.
The fortunes of this plant have been hit or miss over the past few years but for now, business seems to be pretty consistent.
Still wearing the attractive Maroon & Gold Missabe livery, DMIR 403 has been dethroned from the Iron Range a couple of years ago, as she now finds permanent residence in Thunder Bay, stripped from straight air and equipped with Beltpack technology. Opinions differ on this one, she's a long way from pulling pellet trains, but she's still nice to see.
Here she is shoving on the 'old yard' lead at Neebing in Thunder Bay, leading 5258 and 5270.
Recently rebuilt GP40-3 #7601 (rebuilt from a GP38-2) and Slug #601 await their first assignment in CN's Dunvegan (Edmonton) yard. For a 2 week period, the pair were used to train recently hired conductors in switching and BeltPack operations in the former Northern Alberta Railway yard.
The CN 0700 Job is seen running LHF yet again down the N&NW Spur, with the two crew members at the front operating the train by a remote control aka Beltpack.
As the sun sets on the west end of the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard, Wisconsin & Southern's 40th Anniversary unit, WAMX 4170, waits in the wings with what will become train T001 to Janesville later in the evening. Meanwhile, a BRC yard job pulls out for headroom, its conductor just out of sight and using a beltpack for remote control of the power.
The beltpack crewman has hopped off the waycar at CP Hall and shoves the short train the rest of the way out of the control point.
BNSF 3037 a former GP40X a rare treat up here is working the paper mill in West Duluth MN on the day back in June 2019. The guy on the ground has the 3037 under control using a Beltpack remote device.
The pair of beltpack GP9s on the 0800 job work Stuart with a cut of coils up front while the 0700 behind them awaits their trip down the hole.
The daily switch job pulls off of the Suncor lead and onto CN's Camrose Sub. GMD-1 #1438 is the last of these unique road switchers to work the Edmonton area, and as shown still has some hard work to give. The conductor riding the point does appears to be wearing a MAGA hat, however it actually says "Make Scotford Great Again", a preference to a yard outside of the city.
The distant light of the rising moon shines a faint glow on the North end of the former BCR Prince George South yard, as a beltpack job shuffles cars around for outbound trains. The trailing 2 units are nearing the end of their service lives as the 4952 was recently purchased along with a number of other GP38s to replace CN's aging fleet of GP9rm's.
A demoted GP40-2W and one of the few GP9's left on the system switch the Inland cement plant at Edmonton Alberta
An ex. SOO GP38-2 teams up with an original CP sister to work the road's Clover Bar Yard in Edmonton Alberta
Engineer JA on train no.112 gives a wave to the beltpack yard crew on H11 as they hit Kennedy just outside Agincourt Yard with a decent-looking Tier-4 GE on the point.
Long relegated to yard service, GP38-2 #7518, GP9RM # 7060, and GP40-2W #9671 head back to CN's Clover Bar yard after switching industries along the Camrose Sub.
WC 2006 and its beltpack operator wait in the clear as the conductor on the ground shows a new trainee the ropes. With a steady temperature of -19C, the crew holds it together as they prepare to switch the mill at Nichols, BC.
Modern day yard power works the west end of Walker Yard in Edmonton. Beltpack equipped SD60 CN 5406 is the controlling unit with SD40-2W CN 5358 assisting.
After dropping off the excess crew at Garneau station, compined VIA 606 and 602 head back to Montréal, it's final stop. Right next to it, on the yard lead, is a beltpack switcher busy with classifying cars from inbounds and for outbounds trains.
Après avoir déposé le personnel excédentaire à la gare Garneau, les trains combinés, VIA 606 et 602 reprennent la route vers Montréal, leur dernier arrêt. Juste à côté, sur la voie de triage, se trouve un switcher occupé à trier les wagons des trains entrants et sortants.
Rolling a decent train length over the roller coaster - 10MPH restricted Vankleek Spur, CN 4723 and 4905 are slowly working westward toward the junction with VIA Rail Alexandria subdivision at Glen Robertson,ON with cars pulled from Ivaco Rolling Mill in L'Orignal and IKO in Hawkesbury, the sole customers located at the very end of the 20 mile-long branch.
About 15 cars back in the train was the former location of the diamond crossing with Canadian Pacific M&O subdivision, now converted into a bicycle path.
The 4723 was involved in a head-on collision at Montreal's Taschereau yard a few years ago between train 564 and yard job YWTS60. She emerged from the shop freshly painted and Beltpack equipped. Failure to respect CROR rule 105/restricting speed conditions along with overspeed from 564's crew were the cause of the collision.
CN L58921-12
4723 4905
Milepost 15.1 Vankleek Spur
Vankleek Hill, ON
July 12, 2022
This SD40u will most likely never see road train duty since it as been repurposed as a Beltpack unit working for MacMillan yard hump affectations. It is seen here sitting next to the diesel shop, waiting either for repairs or to get its release from the shop workforce.
Cette SD40u ne sera probablement plus jamais utilisé comme engin sur des trains sortant du triage, car elle a été modifié pour recevoir le système Beltpack pour les opérations de triage à MacMillan yard. On la voit ici à côté de l'atelier diesel, en attente de réparations ou du OK du personnel de l'atelier.
The CN 1600 Job backs up on to the tracks leading up to many of Hamiltons finest industries, by the Hamilton Port. Seen leading Long Hood Forward is GTW 5849 being operated by Beltpack, meaning there’s a remote control strapped to the conductors waist, and he can control the movement of the train, and the horn and bell etc.
CN 7017 allant "engine light" vers Ste-Foy pour une fin de semaine de démonstration du BeltPack au publique.
CN 7017 going engine light to Ste-Foy for a weekend of BeltPack demonstration for the public.
Brampton Intermodal Terminal is bustling with activity at all times. When it's not endless convoys of railcars, trucks constantly coming and going keep the terminal busy.
A trio of well worn geeps on the beltpack affectation meets a "Z" serie train at the northern end of the yard.
Le terminal grouille d'activité en tout temps. Quand ce ne sont pas des convois interminable de wagons, les camions faisant des vas et viens sans cesse s'assurent à garder le terminal occupé. Un trio de geeps bien usés sur l'affectation beltpack rencontre un train de la série « Z » à l'extrémité nord de la cour.
The crew of a CN beltpack yard set examines one of their units in the CN Prince George North Yard. The 4609 is the last of its kind on the CN, the last active -840CM. It now spends its last days fittingly on its home rails on the former BCR in Prince George BC.
On a cold winter morning, the first light of the day illuminates a set of three GP9RM working the A Tower Beltpack job assignment as seen from the warm cab of GP9RM 7275.
Having been called at 22:15 for a 00:15 Extra yard job at A Tower, sun's arrival slowly remind us there's not much time left on this miserable shift of switching cars on the "Back Lead", helping to speed up the usual night rush where the cold put everything -and sometimes everyone- at crawl.
CN YATS01-04
7229 4114 7083
CN Taschereau Yard
Montreal, QC
February 4, 2017
Rolling thru farmlands of Eastern Ontario, CN L589 cross an another backroad on it's way to IKO Hawkesbury plant in order to exchange three empties for three loads.
The crew of two former Ottawa Central Railway employees had departed Ottawa's Walkley Yard early in the morning, dashing east over VIA Rail-owned Alexandria subdivision before hitting the Vankleek Spur 10per track speed for the 4h30 turnaround trip to Hawkesbury.
Back in the late 2000s, CN's Transcona shop gave back some glory to GP40-2LW 9410 (and GP38-2 4713) by repainting the units in the classic zebra paint scheme. Almost 15 years after this wonderful idea and despite 9410 now sporting e-bell, AC, Beltpack system along with the hateful 30CDW electronic brake valve, she's still looking good and earning their keep in daily service for 49 years with the same employer.
To me, that's the real definition of an heritage unit.
CN L58921-12
9410 4765
Milepost 10.9 Vankleek Spur
Vankleek Hill,ON
August 12th, 2023
CGRX GP-8 #9209 shoves newly loaded hopper cars back towards the storage tracks at Enfield, IL. Reportedly built as NYC GP-7 #5786, the unit is now operated remotely. When moving between elevator and storage tracks, a crewmember riding the shove or the front steps operates via beltpack. When at the elevator, the chute operator in the shack directly above the first car moves the train as needed to spot cars for loading.
Après une nuit à être au "idle", il était temps de décrasser l'échappement de la loco. CN 7017 se prépare à une deuxième journée de démonstration du BeltPack à la SMFQ.
After a night spent at idle, it was time to clean the soot for the exhaust. CN 7017 getting ready for a seconde weekend day of BeltPack demonstration at the QMRS.
Roulant à une vitesse constante de 30 mi/h, la CN 7017 retourne vers Limoilou après une fin de semaine de démonstration qui c'est terminée sous la pluie...
Travelling at a constant speed of 30 mph, CN 7017 returns to Limoilou after a weekend of demonstrations that ended in the rain...
Rebuilt with Dash 2 electrical components and modified cabs, CN's small fleet of 6000 series SD40u's at one time held down many important assignments on the mainline. Over time, wrecks and retirements have reduced the fleet from 29 to 26, with the remaining units now demoted to yard service.
On an unseasonably warm (false) spring morning, a pair of 6000's head through CN's Walker Yard in Edmonton headed for another day of building trains.
Ex NAR unit CN 1652 works Walker Yard on June 7, 2021. The unit is hooked up with CN 5406 in beltpack service.
CN 9677 is the highest numbered GP40-2 variant acquired by CN and the last ex-GO unit acquired (ex-GOT 710). Here it leads the Pointe St-Charles Switcher as it switches grain cars on the Bickerdike Pier, with CN 7233. Of note is that CN 9677 is now set for beltpack usage (i.e. remote controlled). In the background is the cruise ship Seabourn Quest.
While I did get out for a few more trains during the week after the GWWD, nothing really stood out until my second and final Saturday in "the Peg". Chris de Vries and I decided to hang out and see what we could, including one huge item on my Winnipeg bucket list. There wasn't a great deal going on, but thanks to Jack Hykaway, we had a tip that the belt pack job with 1419 was out at Fort Rouge. Chris and I dotted our i's and crossed our t's to ensure we searched the various industries before heading for the yard itself. Coming up short, we turned to the yard to find the crew on lunch. A couple westbounds darted past Fort Rouge as we watched the beltpack job drill the yard. After an hour and a bit, the crew prepared to head back to Symington. Chris and I made haste to get into position for an unobstructed view of the GMD-1, and hoped for some sun. We got our wish on an otherwise cloudy day, as the GP9 and GMD-1 duo crossed the GWWD diamond and were approaching the yard with full sun!
On a long drive home from Ithaca, NY, a chance encounter with Finger Lakes Railway's Auburn switcher yielded this shot. This job is operated by a single man using a Beltpack-type remote control. Good to see B23-7 No. 2305 still kicking!
Quoi dire de ces guenilles; vieille, sale, besoin d'amour, dues pour la retraite? Mais oohh que c'est trippant à travailler avec!
What can I say about these rags; old, dirty, in need of love, due for retirement? But oohh are they cool to work with!
MOW service SD40-2 sits near the turntable at KCS Knoche Yard. This engine is remote controlled and is used on work trains. The marker lights on the snoot nose are an addition since the last time I saw this unit. I also see some seats were installed on both ends. I imagine the MOW guys with the Beltpacks got tired of standing for their entire day.
Locomotive: KCS MW913
5-8-15
Kansas City, MO
With these power consists, you'd think someone in the company is a railfan! CN Clover Bar Yard, Edmonton Alberta
Tucked away for the morning into track A016 at Oshawa, 4140 and 7046 rest after a hard nights work on 546. The power will be used later on for a beltpack yard job which services GM's Oshawa Car Plant, local customers and the building of 546's train. In the back, CN 309 pulls down the lead towards B yard for a 4 car tail end set off.
One of a handful of CN GP40's to be modified for beltpack (i.e. remote-control) use, CN 9677 leads the Pointe St-Charles switcher as it switches grain cars in front of the out of use grain elevator #5.
It is very rare i flying my drone at 120 m, but a yard i think it is very nice!`
CN Beltpack with CN 4772 Leader switching at Joffre Yard, MP 116.3.
So, i would've said on January 20th, 2024, an SD40-2 lead out of Sarnia yard bound for the States with a manifest, however i would be pulling your leg. Whats the actual situation?
So, pulling up to one of the road bridges overlooking CN's Sarnia Yard (a risky area to photograph), the Beltpack Job was reversing into the yard, grabbing an extra set of power to switch cars with. Here we see CN 5379 pulling the Beltpack job, alongside 2 mainline units as they drag a string of cars up to Sarnia Yard on a cold January afternoon. This was the last time i managed to shoot the SD40 in action, and given its time in Ontario, i managed to score this unit quite a lot, and this will be the next major dump on this account.
Date Taken: January 20th, 2024
Subdivision: CN Strathroy Sub
Train ID: CN Sarnia Beltpack Job
Consist: CN 5379 (SD40-2), CN 4762 (GP38-2W), CN 5605 (SD70I), CN 2647 (C44-9W)
Certainement qu'a une époque cet engin était une fierté de flotte. Aujourd'hui, certe elle est loin d'être la pire, mais elle aurait besoin d'un peu d'amour.
Certainly at one time this machine was a pride of the fleet. Today, certainly it is far from being the worst, but it could do with a little love.
As the sun sets on the west end of the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard, Wisconsin & Southern's 40th Anniversary unit, WAMX 4170, waits in the wings with what will become train T001 to Janesville, later in the evening. Meanwhile, a BRC conductor using a beltpack for remote control walks out to line a switch for his yard job.