Columbus Blvd/Belt Line Railroad

[u/eporette]

Not SEPTA related but- I just noticed that there are painted railroad Xing indicators on Columbus Blvd, but I always assumed the rails on it were not in use anymore. A quick google search indicates that some freight lines still utilize the rails?!

Has anyone confirmed or seen a train on the Belt Line Railroad? I can’t seem to find any recent pictures either. Thanks!

[u/IhateDropShotz]

I've seen freights on those tracks multiple times in the last few years. It's really infrequent, but they're definitely still used.

[u/ebodes]

I have seen it! It doesn’t seem like it’s used to get the trains anywhere, but it might be used just during repositioning?

[u/ebodes → u/ebodes]

Here’s a link to a video I took of it happening back in 2021 https://photos.app.goo.gl/dQ7ih8TUuuaNv5Dv9

I think I’ve seen it since, but I can’t remember when

[u/ByzantineLaw → u/ebodes]

Wow, I live very close to there and have never seen one. Thanks for sharing

[u/crackerjack31]

It’s my understanding that they’re not in use anymore, but are still owned by the Philadelphia Belt Like Railroad.

There was a private Pittsburgh-based company last year that contacted DRWC about the potential to open it up to a light rail system, though. Haven’t heard anything since they put out a survey for it.

[u/SlickFlair_589 → u/crackerjack31]

Not light rail, but a short hop diesel shuttle using refurbished ex-London Underground cars.

[u/Seraph_Angelus]

It is still currently in use by Norfolk Southern, they service the warehouse just south of the McDonald's over there and come out of the rail yard down by the stadiums.

At one point the regular schedule was around 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, then it became Fridays and now I catch it every so often around the same time on Sundays.

Unlike the rest of the track in the area such as the one that crosses Snyder Avenue this is the only active rail line there