Rail Weekly Update #20

2 September 2004

 

 

 

IC&E CWR PROJECTS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

 

 

As of September 2, we had installed just over 86 of the roughly 97 track miles to be completed by November 19th.   It appears we will meet or beat that schedule.  The LA Colo crew began installing CWR on the IC&E near Calmar, Iowa in early August and we expect them to complete that 15 track miles by early September.  The IC&E CWR crew, under foreman Steve Koser’s guidance, also began installing about 9 track miles of CWR on curves across the entire IC&E system this week and will install rail nearly through the end of the year.  Mr. Koser’s crew has completed the Mason City sub portion and the Marquette sub portion of the curve project two weeks ago.  They completed the Chicago sub late last week and will be on the River sub for the most of September.  The Koser crew is over 1/3rd done with their portion of the 2004 CWR project.

 

 

 

¨       All tie, crossing, and bridge work is completed on the first stretch of CWR between Sleepy Eye and Springfield and final surfacing will be coordinated with the completion of the Cobden siding which is now expected to be completed by the second full week of September.

¨       Chad Roob’s crossing gang has completed all of the paved crossings on the second stretch of CWR on the DM&E, and will now assist Earl Ruckdaschel’s surfacing crew with the gravel crossings.

¨       Mike Anderson is overseeing the effort as we continue to use several cranes to clean up the OTM and scrap rail in the last stretch of CWR on the DM&E between Garvin and Verdi. 

¨       The last remaining rail train for this year’s projects (80,000 feet) was unloaded on Monday the 23rd in the Calmar area. 

¨       Welding crews are making all of the closure welds and the welds in all of the switches and should complete all of the welding on the Calmar project within a week after the completion of the CWR laying.

¨       Randy Parmenter’s crossing gang has been extremely busy installing crossings in the Calmar CWR area in preparation for the completion of the entire project. Remington Hills’ surfacing crew has been assisting this effort.

¨       The clean up effort on the Calmar CWR is just beginning and will be completed in front of the final surfacing.