Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
Capital Plan 2000
Engineering Department
6/26/2000 - Nick Montagano, IHBs Chief Engineer, reviews the Year 2000 Capital
Plan.
In February, the IHB and CSXs signal departments completed one of the first
projects for 2000 as a joint effort. A grueling two-week cut-over at Calumet Park
Interlocking was completed this past winter just in time to replace the old system that
died a few days prior to the cut over. New computer software split the interlocking
allowing the IHB and CSX to control their own traffic from their joint Calumet City
operations center. Calumet Park had been controlled from Hohman Tower, which is also
scheduled for remote control later in 2000.
Replacement of the approach spans at the North Avenue Bridge, tracks #1 and #2,
Franklin Park, was completed on January 19th. The two old timber spans were
damaged by fire. The new spans enabled the IHB to remove the 10 mph speed restriction that
had been on the bridge since July 3,1995.
Other projects for the remainder of 2000 include:
- Installation of a new #5 Lead at Blue Island Yard from Stewart Ave to Indiana Avenue.
The completed project will allow for simultaneous moves in and out of the East End of Blue
Island yard.
- Remote control the northeast wye switch at Osborn. The old hand-throw switch will be
replaced with a power switch to reduce the amount of time highway crossings in Hammond are
blocked by trains between the NS and IHB.
- Installation of a new Hump Lead at CP Harvey. The new lead will allow for 5200 feet of
cars to be pulled back and shoved over the hump at Blue Island Yard without interference
to the Main Line. Currently hump cuts are limited to 2400 feet.
- Installation of new air-operated retarders in groups five and six at Blue Island Yard.
This will replace worn electric retarders currently used to control the speeds of cars as
they are humped.
New signal projects include:
Remote control State Line Interlocker in Hammond, IN
- Remote control Hohman Interlocker in Hammond, IN
2000 track construction work includes:
- Installation of 15,000 ties
- Installation of 25,000 feet of 136 pound continuous welded rail for main line curve
patch
- Surfacing of 60 miles of main and yard track
- Installation of 28 new switches at Blue Island yard, CP
Calumet Park, CP Hohman, CP Gibson and Lake Street
|