Fields Takes BRC Throttle

Percy Fields

Railroad veteran Percy E. Fields III has been named President and General Manager of The Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC), the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in the U.S. Fields, 42, brings more than 22 years of railroad experience to the job, most recently as BRC’s General Manager.

Fields began his career as Union Pacific conductor more than two decades ago. His experience includes three years as Director of Transportation Services and one as Northern Region Superintendent of Dispatching at UP. His most recent position prior to coming to BRC in 2020 was General Manager of the Alton & Southern Railway.

Fields succeeds Mike Grace, who served as BRC President since 2018 and will now move to a transition role as Executive Advisor until his retirement in May 2023, after a 43-year railroad industry career.

“I am excited and challenged to take this position as the leader of Belt Railway, and Iam confident we can continue to move rail freight traffic through Chicago in a safe and efficient manner,” Fields said.

“I am confident that Percy will capably lead Belt Railway into the future as Chicago continues to evolve as the dominant and largest railroad hub in the country,” Grace said.

Fields holds an MBA from Benedictine University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s  Advanced Management Program.

The Belt Railway Company of Chicago is the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in the U.S., employing approximately 400 people. BRC dispatches more than 8,400 rail cars per day through its Clearing Yards located just south of Midway Airport in Chicago. BRC operates 28 miles of main line track and more than 300 miles of switching track.