Sidings Weekly Update #19

19 August 2004

 

 DE SMET SIDING EXTENSION NEARING COMPLETION!!

 

 

As of August 19th we have put 3 of the 6 sidings now planned for 2004 into service, Tracy, Sanborn and Elkton.  De Smet siding is nearing completion and will be put into service early in the week of August 23rd.  Cobden and Florence projects are 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.

¨       We expect a decision on the wetlands today, the 19th.

¨       Dirt work on the last 3000’ will begin the week after final approval and should take no more than 10 days, allowing final track construction to be completed sometime 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 been settled and signed so construction has begun.

 

¨       Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye started on their dirt work on August 2nd and has completed the connection portion of the project. We expect all of the dirt work to be completed by the end of September.

¨       Material is on order and will be arriving over the next few weeks.

¨       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 was completed last week

·        The new west switch was installed on August 5th.  Track has been constructed and ballast will be dumped today, the 19th, and the new extension will be cutover no later than the week of the 23rd.

·        The new siding will have final surfacing completed shortly after being put into service.

 

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!!!