The Belt Railway Company of Chicago

BRC at Sawyer Elementary’s Career Day! The BRC had a wonderful time at Sawyer Elementary’s Career Day. Sawyer students were attentive, inquisitive, and so eager to learn all about working for the railroad. Their curiosity and enthusiasm made the experience even more rewarding. A special shoutout to Joe Chacon, Media Coordinator, and Clint Jonas, Signal Foreman, who received the sweetest, handwritten thank you note from the 3rd grade, complete with a drawing of our train yard that perfectly captured our operations!

Last week, some folks from our Track Department worked on repairing the track gauge on the set of tracks just North of our General Office Building. ??? Keep up the great work, Ignacio Murillo, Arnaldo Ayala, Abraham Martinez, and Alejandro Herrera!

Jerry Peck Selected to Lead Belt Railway of Chicago Brings over 40 years of experience to post CHICAGO – Longtime railroad veteran Jerry Peck has begun a new chapter in his career as President and General Manager of The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC.) Peck brings more than 40 years of experience in the railroad industry to the BRC, which is the largest intermediate switching terminal in the United States. Peck started his career in 1973 with the Illinois Central Railroad as a Trainman and Conductor. His experience also includes 11 years as General Manager of Canadian National and three years as General Manager for the Canadian Pacific US East Region. “The Belt Railway Company has a long and important history in North American railroading and I am excited to continue to build on its legacy,” Peck said. Peck said that he looks forward to serving as the head of BRC which is central to the movement of goods across the country. “Many people don’t realize the magnitude of importance that Chicago and the BRC plays in our economy and supply chains,” said Peck. “I’m confident that my background and experience in operations, planning, and execution will serve the BRC well and will help develop the next generation of leaders in the railroad industry.” After working as a Trainman and Conductor for the ICRR, Peck climbed the ranks, serving as a Locomotive Engineer, Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers, Trainmaster in both Centralia and Memphis and the Assistant Superintendent of Network Operations for Canadian National before moving on to his post as General Manager for Canadian National. Most recently, Peck worked as a management consultant for Loram Corporation. During the last several years, the BRC has worked closely with partners at the state, local, and federal levels to streamline railroad shipments as part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program. Peck will be responsible for continuing these partnerships and ensuring the BRC’s vitality for the future. “Mr. Peck’s background in leadership and working with diverse stakeholders will serve the Belt Railway of Chicago well,” said BRC General Counsel Christopher Steinway. “We all look forward to the fresh perspective that he will bring to our operations.” The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) is the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in the United States employing approximately 400 people. The Belt Railway dispatches more than 8400 rail cars per day through its Clearing Yards located just south of Midway Airport in Chicago. BRC operates 28 miles of mainline track with more than 300 miles of switching track.

??59th Street Safety Blitz! ?? Members of the BRC, FRA, CPD, and Operation Lifesaver joined forces at the 59th Street Highway Grade Crossing to spread the word about railroad safety. The group educated the community on the ENS (Emergency Notification System) sign and the dangers of crossing when the gates are down. Many thanks to Jeff Mateyak (BRC), Joe Chacon (BRC), Maria De La Torre (CPD), Debra Preus (CPD), and Cecilia Diaz (FRA) for their participation today! And remember- See Tracks? Think Train!

?? Employee Spotlight Series ?? Our Employee Spotlight Series aims to highlight an employee and learn more about them beyond the day-to-day work. This time, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tracy Johnson, Conductor. Get to know more about Tracy's journey, passions, and what makes him an integral part of our team!

?? Employee Spotlight Series ?? Our Employee Spotlight Series aims to highlight an employee and learn more about them beyond the day-to-day work. This time, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tracy Johnson, Conductor. Get to know more about Tracy's journey, passions, and what makes him an integral part of our team!

Our Transportation new hires Oscar Salazar, Anthony Vlcek, Isaac Duran, Alexander McClure, Enrique Gonzalez-Alarcon, are the first class to use our Belt University LMS for their Conductor certification exams. Passing the written exams is just one of many steps toward becoming a certified Conductor. These employees have spent time in the classroom, observed operations, and developed real railroad skills, ensuring they receive well-rounded training to support their success. Keep up the great work! ????

Juan Soto and Juan Lopez are hard at work fixing bad orders in the West Class, using a speed swing machine to separate the cars and repair defects. With 38 years of experience working together, their dedication and skill keep operations running smoothly. Great job!

Today, we celebrated the retirement of BRC Transportation employee Eddie Jimenez, after 30 years of dedicated service. Coworkers and friends gathered to say goodbye. Eddie, we wish you nothing but the best in retirement! You were a valued member of the team, and you will be greatly missed. Cheers! ????

Every morning, our Track team meets to plan the day ahead—and safety is always our top priority. Today’s debrief focused on the forecasted snow in the Chicago area, and our team members listened closely as Track Manager, Jeff Mateyack, outlined the steps to ensure safety. ????