Sidings Weekly Update #18

12 August 2004

 

 ELKTON EXTENSION COMPLETED!!   DE SMET EXTENSION AND FLORENCE CONNECTION BOTH STARTED!!

 

 

As of  August 12th we have put 3 of the 6 sidings now planned for 2004 into service, Tracy, Sanborn and Elkton.  Work on the other three; Cobden, Florence and De Smet is progressing.

 

1.) The Cobden siding track work is now about 70% complete.

 

¨       Track construction started on June 28th.  Over 7,000 feet of track has been completely built.

¨       The siding has been put into service as a 4,500 foot stub track until the final extension is completed.

¨       Wetlands mitigation is in its final stages and we expect to have the work on this siding begin again by the middle of next week.

¨       Dirt work on the last 3000’ should begin within the next week or so allowing the completion of the full 10,000’ siding to be completed in September.

 

 

2.) The Tracy siding was put into service on Thursday May 6th and continues to perform up to the transportation department’s expectations.

 

¨       We have received the crossover switches this week and will install them in late August or early September when the surfacing crew gets close to the area.

 

 

3.) the negotiations on the Florence siding have finally been settled and signed so construction can begin.

 

¨       The dirt work contract has been awarded to Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye.  Work started on August 2nd and we expect all of the dirt work to be completed by the end of September.

¨       The Connection and siding are expected to be in service by the end of October.

 

 

 4.) The De Smet Siding extension was approved in late May.  This project will extend the siding nearly 4,000 feet westward from the current west switch location.

 

·        The dirt work started on Monday the 26th and will be completed by the end of this week.

·        The new west switch was installed on August 5th.  Track has been constructed from the switch to the first crossing in preparation of the remaining track construction.  This will begin August 16 under Darrin Le Garre’s guidance with assistance from crane operator Ron Klucas.

·        The new siding is expected to be in service by the 27th of August.

 

5.) The Elkton Siding has been extended over 4,000 feet to the east and was put into service on the 28th of July.  This will help with congestion and will enable the meeting of longer trains. Total length of Elkton siding is now 8200’.

 

 

6.) The Sanborn Siding project involved renewing over ˝ the ties in the current siding and elevator tracks and changing the rail as well as adding ballast and surfacing.  This removed restrictions that allowed only empty cars and four-axle locomotives to use these tracks.  The track was put back into service on June 23rd!!

 

·        Project is 100% completed!!!