Sidings Weekly Update #7

27 May 2004

 

2004 SIDING SCHEDULE COMPLETED:

 

TRACY, COBDEN,  SANBORN,  FLORENCE,  ELKTON AND DESMET MAKE UP FINAL LIST

 

As of May 27, we have put 1 of the 6 sidings now planned for 2004 in to service.

 

1.) The Cobden siding dirt work has been completed for the west 8000’ for   several weeks and we are now awaiting the arrival of the switches the first week of June and their installation the second week of June. Track construction will begin on the 21st of June and is expected to be completed sometime in early to mid July.

 

¨       Switches are being loaded in Niles, Ohio today and we expect them to be here next week for assembly with installation of the west switch scheduled for 25th of June. Ordered and expect delivery and install-ation of the West switch before June 15th.

¨       Tie delivery has continued with almost 1/2 of the ties already at the location. The rest should be delivered within the next week. 

¨       We have now shipped all the rail and otm that will be required for this project to the area and one of the DM&E cranes is distributing it on site in preparation for the track construction.

¨       Track construction to begin on the 21st of June.

 

 

2.) The Tracy siding was put in service on Thursday the 6th and has provided immediate help to alleviate congestion in the area.

 

¨       We expect to install the crossovers later in June to complete the project, but the new pass is usable without the crossovers being installed.

¨       The siding has allowed the transportation to department meet up to three trains in the area, which allows for much greater flexibility for train operations.

 

 

3.) The negotiations on the Florence siding continue to move forward and we expect a final agreement very soon.

 

 4.) The De Smet Siding extension was approved late last week. This project will extend the siding nearly 4000’ westward from the current west switch location.

 

·        Dirt contractor will be selected yet this week and work is expected to begin the first week of June with dirt work to be completed by the end of June.

·        Switch is ordered and expected to be delivered by late July.

·        Switch installation and track construction scheduled occur in August and September.

 

5.) The Elkton Siding will be extended over 4000’ to the east and will help with congestion and will enable the meeting of longer trains.

 

·        Dirt work started on the 17th  of May and we expect this all to be completed by the first week in June.

·        New Switch for east end is ordered and will be delivered by the middle of July.

·        Ties have been ordered and they will begin arriving immediately with completion by the middle of June.

·        Rail and OTM that has been recovered from the Volga/ Lake Preston project, will be delivered and stored on site ready for the construction.

 

6.) The Sanborn Siding project involves renewing over ½ the ties in the current siding and changing the rail as well as adding ballast and surfacing.

 

·        Ties are ordered and will be delivered by the end of the month or the first week of July.

·        Expect contractor LA Colo to install these ties when his crews are in the area around mid June.

·        DM&E forces will replace the 72# rail that the siding now has with 100# rail that has been recovered from the CWR projects.

·        Ballasting and surfacing will be completed soon after the rail is installed and we expect this project to be completed by late July.