The Indiana Harbor Belt was formed in 1907 through several smaller systems operating around Chicago. The IHB's earliest predecessor was the East Chicago Belt Railroad, which began operations in 1896 serving the Indiana state line and Grasselli. After the Chicago Junction Railway lost its lease of the ECB in the fall of 1907 the latter railroad. The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (reporting mark IHB) is a Class III railroad in the United States. Ownership. The IHB is jointly owned by Conrail Shared Assets Operations (51%) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (49%). These shareholders trace their ownership stake in IHB to previous mergers and acquisitions in the railroad industry.
Industrial History IHB Indiana Harbor Belt
As it grew, it merged with two other lines and was renamed the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in 1907, when it came under the control of the New York Central system. Eventually the IHB became the largest true belt line in the country. Its main line ran just 40 miles, from Hammond to Franklin Park, Illinois, but with all of its connecting lines. The Indiana Harbor Belt is one of the three notable terminal lines which sprang up in the late 19th century to serve greater Chicago; two were owned by major line-haul railroads (IHB and the Belt Railway of Chicago) while the Baltimore & Ohio controlled its wholly-owned Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal. In addition, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. Welcome to the Indiana Harbor Belt archive. Rosters, historical information, maps and photographs are available here for those interested in the nation's largest terminal railroad (nearly 400 track miles). The IHB operates as an independent road even though it is jointly owned by Conrail Shared Assets (51%) and Canadian Pacific (49%). The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is the largest switch carrier in the U.S. with 54 miles of mainline track (24 miles of which is double main track) and 266 miles of additional yard and siding track.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
The Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) is a shortline railroad operating in a semi-circle around the Chicagoland area. Its mainline runs between the Metra (CP) Milwaukee District-West at Franklin Park, IL and the NS Chicago Line at East Chicago, IN, via Blue Island, IL and Gibson, IN. IHB operates 2 major classification yards, Gibson and Blue Island. The Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB or "the Harbor") is one of the important belt lines in the Chicago area. Historically, the IHB was jointly owned by the New York Central (NYC) and Milwaukee Road (CMStP&P), which is reflected by the IHB's easternmost and westernmost endpoints. The Indiana Harbor Belt as we know it today was formed in 1907. The Chicago Junction Railway, a New York Central affiliate, had leased the East Chicago Belt Railroad and the Terminal Railroad in 1898, and had bought the Chicago, Hammond & Western Railroad in 1896. In October of 1907, the ECB's lease was dissolved, and it then acquired the CJ's. Editor's Note: This is the story of Indiana Harbor Belt EMD GP38-3 3800, as told to Railway Age by IHB Mechanical Superintendent Michael Cunningham. The unit, purchased with a damaged prime-mover, underwent a complete rebuild and upgrade, and received a very special military tribute livery. "This EMD GP38-3, before it came to the Indiana.
Indiana Harbor Belt Tracking the Light
Rebuilt 8/1962 to IHB 477. EMD SW1500 / RP15BDF 1500hp All 1500-series units are in active service. Four SW1500s have been converted to dual fuel units (diesel + compressed natural gas) with the new designation RP15BDF. Originally IHB 9200, remanufactured by GE Mexico, 2003. Entering from the south and running alongside CSX for a short distance is the double track Indiana Harbor Belt line from Blue Island Yard. The CSX line then heads directly north into Chicago, while the IHB runs northwest for several miles before heading due north through the western suburbs of Chicago. There is an important crossover between.
Taking photos and video railfanning along the Indiana Harbor Belt IHB railroad in La Grange Chicago Illinois. CSX, BNSF, Union Pacific, IHB, and Canadian Pac. MC: Michigan Central. CI&S: Chicago, Indiana & Southern. NYC: New York Central System. SLSF: St.Louis and San Francisco. PM: Pere Marquette. Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Ed Scarlett, who provided most of the information. Other rosters consulted: Bill Jernstrom's in Alvin Staufer's Steam Power of the New York Central, vol.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad In Color is a great addition to Morning Sun Books' "In Color" series. Sam Beck and Bill Gustason, two Chicago area railroad photographers and historians, do a great job highlighting the IHB and it's presence in the greater Chicagoland area. Unlike most other books in this series, this one has a nice selection of. Indiana Harbor Belt had four SW1500s (so far) rebuilt by Railpower Technologies into RP15BDF natural gas-powered locomotives in the early 2000s. Seen at the railroad's Gibson Yard, IHB 1504 and 1514 are the former IHB SW1500s 9205 and 9202, which were built in the late 1960s. On an adjacent track, and visible in the background, is IHB GP38-2.
