Sidings Weekly Update #31

18 November 2004

FLORENCE SIDING AND CONNECTION WITH BN RREADY FOR SERVICE!!!! SIDING PROJECTS ALL 100% COMPLETE!!!

As of November 18^th we have put all 6 sidings planned for 2004 capital program into service. The new sidings and extensions are Tracy, Sanborn, Elkton, De Smet, Cobden and now Florence.

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

¨ The siding was put into “full” service as a 9,900’ siding on Thursday the 16^th of September.

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

¨ The installation of the cross-overs has completed this project

3.) The Florence siding was put into service Friday, October 15^th and the BN connection portion of this project is still on schedule to be put into service no later than the end of November. This siding is nearly 8,900’ long!!

· Siding and connection are virtually 100% completed with only a few field welds left to do.

4.) The De Smet Siding extension was put into service on the 20^th of August and extends the siding more than 3,000 feet to the west.

¨ 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 28^th of July. This has helped with congestion and will enable the meeting of longer trains. Total length of Elkton siding is now 8,200’.

¨ 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 23^rd!!

¨ Project is 100% completed!!!