Sidings Weekly Update #25

7 October 2004

 

LAST SIDING PROJECT, FLORENCE, TO BE IN SERVICE BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK!!!

 

 

As of October 7 we have put 5 of the 6 sidings now planned for 2004 into service. They are Tracy, Sanborn, Elkton, De Smet and Cobden.

 

1.) The Cobden siding track work is now 100% complete.

¨       The siding was put into “full” service as a 9900’ siding on Thursday the 16th of September.

 

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

 

¨       The cross-over switches will be assembled in late September and installed later in the year when we have a surfacing crew close to the area.

 

3.) The Florence siding and Connection  project is on schedule for completion by the end of October.

 

¨       Mathiowetz Construction of Sleepy Eye is 100% completed on the dirt work for the entire project

¨       The 4 switches have been delivered to the site.

¨       The connection switch to the DM&E main line at MP 247.8 was installed on Monday the 13th and the “wye” switch on the connection track was assembled in place on Friday the 10th.

¨       The Connection track is built to the wye track switch and ballast has been dumped on this track. Kent Maxon’s surfacing crew with Jerry Ziemke running the 6700 tamper have made one surfacing pass through the area

¨       Wes Risseeuw’s tie crew, assisted by crane operator Lynn, Boom Truck operators Danburg and Kellar and contractor Dave Moriarty, are now working on the siding track at Florence and have all of the rail and ties laid out and spiked to gauge. Finish spiking and anchoring will be completed today the 7th of October.

¨       Chad Roob’s switch and crossing crew is assembling both switches for the Florence siding and will install the east switch at MP 248.6 today the 7th of October.  This crew will install the west switch early next week and then Mr. Maxon’s surfacing crew will surface the entire area and the siding will be put into service late next week.

 

 4.) The De Smet Siding extension was put into service on the 20th of August.

¨        This extension is now 100% completed

 

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 has helped with congestion and will enable the meeting of longer trains.  Total length of Elkton siding is now 8200’.

¨        Extension is 100% completed!!!

 

6.) The Sanborn Siding project involved renewing over ½ 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!!!