The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad has a mainline running between Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana. Jack Delano made the round-trip run between these points, and recorded several images during the trip. A couple weeks ago we saw brakeman Lee High taking a break as the freight train was heading out on it’s daily journey.

Now the train has made it’s delivery to the Erie Railroad, and it’s crew is preparing for the run back home. Brakeman Zerkel has removed the caboose’s kerosene marker lamps and is going to hang them on the opposite end for it’s return journey in the opposite direction.

It’s dark and snowy now as we near the end of this day in January of 1943. Once the train is underway, I suspect the crew will pour another cup of hot coffee, and settle in for the ride.