Sidings Weekly Update #8

3 June 2004

 

2004 SIDING SCHEDULE COMPLETED:

 

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

 

As of June 3rd, we have put 1 of the 6 sidings now planned for 2004 into 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.

 

¨       The west switch for the siding has been delivered and boom truck operator Ted Arndt has begun setting up the ties and rail for assembly the week of the 7th.  Installation of the switch is expected on the week of the 14th.

¨       Tie delivery has continued with well over 1/2 of the ties already at the location and distributed along the siding location.  The rest should be delivered within the next week or two.

¨       Crane operator Dave Root has distributed all of the rail and otm along the siding location for the construction project.  This material was recovered from the Volga to Lake Preston CWR project. 

¨       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 or July 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 is in the final stages of being selected and we expect that decision to be made very early next week with construction to begin very shortly after that.  Sub grade work should be completed by late June or very early in July.

·        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 expected this all to be completed by the first week in June, however the recent rains have delayed the completion of this dirt work.  Completion of this work is expected shortly and will not delay the track construction

·        New Switch for east end is ordered and will be delivered by the end 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 the second week of June.

·        Expect contractor LA Colo to install these ties when his crews are in the area around the third week of 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 in early or mid July.

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