The Flickr Beltjob Image Generatr

On the last day of the trip, we found baby boat MNNR 54 leading Job 46 back south after working Fridley. The south facing B39 was unable to start in the morning, so 54 was subbed in this set, which was alright in my books! About a year ago, the nose and cab of 54 were repainted and a newly designed logo slapped on front. Since then, the rest of the locomotive has been repainted. While I personally like the skunk stripes more, it's hard to complain about a fresh -7. Big thanks to BTC for the brush abatement.

The conductor on the Belt Job lines the switch at Belt Line Crossing a few hours after the Hugo Job went east onto the former Skally Line. Today's power is the ex-TTI B36-7, former Seaboard #5884.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Engineer Matt Lastovich is at the helm two CSS GP38-2s (2003/2008) sandwiching a CSS SD38-2 (804) on train PF-9 or the “Belt Job” as he begins their shove out of Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Avenue Yard and around the corner at Rock Island Junction. Seen here on the former KCBX (Rail to Water) branch of the BRC and also former Rock Island trackage, ducking under the Chicago Skyway in South Chicago, IL. Taken: 8-28-23

Running as PF-9, Engineer Matt Lastovich takes 109 cars off the Belt Railway of Chicago from their Commercial Avenue Yard, jumping off Canadian National & Metra trackage while traversing the many crossovers onto NICTD home rails at busy Kensington junction on Chicago’s Southside during a beautiful Sunday afternoon sunset. Two CSS GP38-2s (2003/2008) sandwiching a SD38-2 (804) absolutely smoke it up in run 8 passing the 106+ year old Illinois Central Tower, as the train is bound for CSS Burnham Yard where they’d tie down and turn it over to Monday’s crew for the run east to Bailly Yard. Taken: 8-27-23

Images you’d wish to hear, luckily I was also doing video for this scene as well, as 2003 has one of the nicest sounding RS5Ts around. You can tell Matt loves the camera!

Minnesota Commercial's Belt Job is running with B39-8E #87 as the train works its way north through St Anthony.

Early this year in the colder days of December 2022, South Shore Freight’s “Belt Job” or AF-4, hustles westbound with a short train for Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Avenue Yard with a combo of CSS 805 (SD38-2) and CSS 2006 (GP38-2). Seen here dodging shadows and crossing the Calumet River on Chicago’s Eastside at 130th street in the final rays of sunlight before dipping into the clouds. Taken: 12-28-22

Since March of this year, this job now runs strictly at night due to the ongoing procedures of NICTD’s double track project…miss the good times.

Under fantastic sunny code blue skies, South Shore Freight’s “Belt Job” or train AF4, is heading west through Hegewisch, IL for Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Avenue Yard with a pair of CSS GP38-2s (2006/2004) and cars from their own Bailly Yard. Seen here at “Big Blue” Bridge, swinging around the sweeping curve over the NS Chicago District in run 8, making the steep incline no match for the two veteran EMDs. Taken: 2-20-23

After some fresh snowy powder that was mostly gone by sunrise, a late afternoon South Shore “Belt Job” or AF4, heads west through Gary, IN along Interstate 90, enroute for Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commerical Avenue Yard. Seen here, CSS 2005 (GP38-2) and FURX 4223 (GP40-2) take charge of taking 27 cars up and down the curvy hill over the former EJ&E, now the CN Matteson Sub as they coast down in run 8 fashion. This is one of the bigger hills on the railroad, the railroad that Trains Magazine calls “Flat & forgiving” a name that fans and employees frankly just can’t stand to hear anymore. Taken: 2-16-23.

South Shore Freight’s daily manifest AF4 or “Belt Job” out of Bailly Yard heads west through downtown Hammond, IN as they wiggle through the snaking S curve just east of the Illinois State Line. CSS 805 (SD38-2) and CSS 2006 (GP38-2) lead the 27 car train enroute for interchange with the Belt Railway of Chicago at Commerical Avenue Yard. Taken: 12-28-22

This location will be entirety different as NICTD has started preparations for their new route to Dyer, IN, starting right here in the heart of Hammond in future years.

Ringing in the new year with a burnt out ditch light! A seemingly impossible fix and multiple second attempts by others, the ditch light will be left burnt out…it adds more character right?

Anyway, a rare sunny January day in Chicago, South Shore Freight’s “Belt Job” or AF4 is seen here crossing the Calumet River westbound with 30ish cars in tow for Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Avenue Yard. The power this day was a pair of classic traction orange CSS GP38-2s (2002/2006). Lucky for me, the clouds played nice, as the day got shorter, the clouds came to steal whatever sun was left hovering around the east side. Taken: 1-9-23

It’s a beautiful sunny day on Chicago’s East Side, as The Belt Job or train AF-4 from CSS Bailly Yard, roars up hill in run 8 for “Big Blue” bridge over the NS Chicago District with a GP38-2/GP40-2 combo. CSS 2009 leads an leased out FURX 4226, as they head west through Hegewisch, IL, bound for Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Ave Yard after crossing the Indiana/Illinois State Line. Taken: 11-8-22

CSS 2003 and sister unit 2000 take the Belt Job west through Ogden Dunes, IN. It was nice to see a set of classic orange GP38-2s on this, as normally the SD38-2s hold down this job.

In the midst of a winter storm that ended up dropping more then a foot of snow, train AF-4 otherwise known as the “Belt Job” battles the winter conditions as it crosses the Calumet River bridge while kicking up some fresh powder with CSS 804 (SD38-2) leading CSS 2008 (GP38-2). It’s seen here heading west through Chicago’s east side at 130th street with 56 cars in tow for the Belt Railway of Chicago’s Commercial Avenue Yard. Taken: 2-3-21

Nice guy Mike also made it to the spot with 30 seconds to spare!

After swapping power in Bailly for the trip to the Belt, NICD 1001 and CSS 2007 team up to take the 30 car train west. Here the train is seen passing the Portage/Ogden Dunes Station.

I was up in the Twin Cities this weekend for the Minnesota United-Sporting KC game, and while I didn't have a ton of time for railfanning, I was able to briefly get out for portions of both days.

Upon arriving at the yard on Sunday morning, I found the 85, an ex-LMX B39-8 working the west end of the yard with what I believe was the Belt Job. North of downtown at Broadway St., I shot the train rolling by some nice looking fall color. It may have been backlit, but I'm not going to pass up the opportunity to shoot a railroad like this when I have the chance.

Until next time, Minnesota!

South Shore Freights classic pair of former IAIS SD38-2s (CSS 805-804) hit the streets of downtown Michigan City, IN. Seen here coasting down the hill at 11th street and Lafayette street with a 21 car “Belt Job” in tow for Bailly Yard in Burns Harbor, IN. Due to the winter storm and the BRC being overflowed with cars, the train would become 120 cars long out of Bailly and run to BRCs Commerical Ave Yard. Taken: 2-21-20

A South Shore exclusive: CSS AF-4, the Belt Job, overtakes PF-10 at the west end of the double track near Miller. The PF-10 will follow the Belt Job to Aetna where it will divert onto the City Track and head for Curtis Yard to interchange with CN.

Matt Lastovich is the conductor on AF4; Mike Polk and Kevin Vahey are conductor and engineer, respectively, on PF-10.

Minnesota Commercial's Belt Job gets under way in Minneapolis' Commercial Yard on a RAINY July morning. These might not be ALCo's, but they're still pretty cool.

Minnesota Commercial's Belt Job works its way north through Minneapolis on its way towards New Brighton, MN behind a pair of ex-LMX B39-8's.

Here's the Belt Job pulling through the yard near St. Anthony on Wednesday morning. They had to wait for some BNSF light power to get through before they could get on the move.